The death toll in the boat mishap in Niger State has risen to 60 according to officials as ongoing rescue efforts continue in the swollen rivers.

Initial report says 29 people lost their lives and several others rescued when the overloaded boat capsized on Wednesday.  local officials said on Wednesday.

The vessel was reported to have departed from Tungan Sule in Malale district on Tuesday morning, heading to Dugga for a condolence visit, when it struck a submerged tree stump near Gausawa community in Borgu Local Government Area.

Abdullahi Baba Ara, chair of Borgu Local Government Area, said the casualty figure was rising.

“The death toll of the boat incident has risen to 60, Ten people have been found in serious condition and many are still being sought.” Baba Ara said

Sa’adu Inuwa Muhammad, the district head of Shagumi, who arrived at the scene of the accident shortly after it occurred disclosed that the boat was overloaded with almost 100 passengers.

“I was at the scene yesterday around 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. The boat carried more than 100 people,” Muhammad said. “We were able to recover 31 corpses from the river. The boat was also recovered and removed.”

He added that four victims were buried on Tuesday in accordance with Islamic rites, and that women and children made up the majority of the deceased.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency said emergency personnel and local divers were searching for the victims. It confirmed 29 deaths so far with 50 rescues, and two missing persons. The agency said the boat was overloaded and collided with a tree stump, causing it to capsize.