INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
At least 64 people were feared dead following a boat accident on a river in Zamfara State in northwest Nigeria, local officials said on
Saturday.A wooden boat carrying 70 farmers capsized as it was transporting them across the river to reach their farmlands close to Gummi
the rescue efforts.He added that emergency teams were intensifying their search in the hope of finding more survivors.More than 900 farmers
rely on crossing the river daily to access their farmlands, but only two boats are available, often leading to overcrowding, said the local
traditional ruler.Zamfara State, already plagued by criminal gangs seeking control of mineral resources, has also been severely affected by
flooding caused by heavy rains
Two weeks ago, floods displaced more than 10,000 residents, local officials said.Source: Reuters--Agencies
