A Nigerian tugboat, LEO, has sunk off the South African coastline, leaving one confirmed dead, five missing, and 12 rescued in ongoing emergency response efforts.
The vessel, reportedly returning to Lagos after undergoing repairs in South Africa, encountered severe storm conditions about 18 nautical miles offshore between Cape Town and Durban late Saturday night.
Rough seas forced the tug aground before it eventually sank.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed that South African authorities formally notified the Nigerian government.
She stated that the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is coordinating rescue operations and that survivors are being transported to Port Elizabeth, where Nigerian High Commission officials are providing consular assistance.
The coastal corridor between Cape Town and Durban is notorious for volatile weather and heavy swells, which pose significant risks to vessels, particularly those returning from mechanical servicing.
Attention is expected to focus on the tugboat’s seaworthiness, the storm’s severity, and whether distress signals were transmitted promptly to facilitate rescue.
The Nigerian High Commission is liaising with local authorities and families of those onboard while search operations continue. Updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
