At least 20 persons are feared dead following the collapse of a jetty at Isaka Community in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State thereby causing panic in the area.
The incident was said to have happened on the eve of Saturday October 2nd 2021, as passengers were struggling to get boat from the community back to Port Harcourt, the state capital.
It was learnt that there was a big burial programme which attracted many people to the area and that the population had caused rush for boat. More than 80 people had emptied on the jetty causing pressure on the old, rickety facility.
He noted that local divers in the area have emptied into the river and that many people have been rescued.
“Today we had burial programme at Isaka and a lot of people were in attendance. On our way back people came to board vessel at the jetty.
“On that process, the jetty caved and so many people fell into the river and they were not able to be rescued. Few of them were rescued easily. I was standing a bit away from the point that caved in.
“The jetty is an old jetty. It was during Lt Col Dauda Musa Komo’s period (as military administrator of the state) that they inaugurated that jetty. We have tried to get another jetty but we could not.
“The people came on it, pressure was on the jetty and then it caved in. The people on the jetty at that moment were more than 70. Local divers are still combing the area to find survivors. Though some were rescued.
“To be candid I may not say exactly the number of people that have not been found, but they should be up to 20”, he narrated.
