Nigerian Tugboat Sinks Off South African Coast, One Dead

A Nigerian tugboat named Leo sank off the South African coast on Saturday night, with one person confirmed dead and five others reported missing. The vessel, carrying 18 people, ran aground approximately 18 nautical miles off the coast between Cape Town and Durban amid rough weather conditions.

The tugboat was en route to Lagos for repairs when the incident occurred. Dr.

Magnus Ez, the Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, issued a statement confirming the fatality and the missing crew members. Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu also confirmed the situation, stating that survivors were transported to Port Elizabeth.

The Nigerian High Commission is expected to provide necessary support, and the federal government is maintaining close contact with South African authorities as search and rescue efforts continue. The full circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation, with severe weather cited as a contributing factor.