5 persons still missing after jetty collapses in Rivers

Many people were feared dead on Saturday when a landing jetty in Isaka community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State collapsed   Residents of the community said about five persons are still missing since the incident occurred.  A witness, Isaac Walter,  said more than 60 passengers,  who were waiting for a boat to take […]

Many people were feared dead on Saturday when a landing jetty in Isaka community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State collapsed  

Residents of the community said about five persons are still missing since the incident occurred. 

A witness, Isaac Walter,  said more than 60 passengers,  who were waiting for a boat to take them back to Port Harcourt after attending a burial ceremony,  were standing on top of the  jetty when it caved in. 

“We went for a burial at Isaka and on our way back we saw people lined up to board a boat and many of them were standing on top of the jetty and in it.  

“Many people fell into the river and many of them could not be rescued. I was a little away from the point the jetty caved in.  

“The jetty was very old and there were so much pressure on it, which was why it collapsed. I’m afraid more than five persons might have drown in the river,” the witness said. 

Some of the residents who spoke with our reporter said more than five people were still missing after the incident. 

A resident of the community identified only as Promise who lost two of his daughters in the incident said he was still searching for their corpses. 

“Since Saturday when this incident occurred I have been combing the river with a canoe for my two daughters who were standing on top of the jetty when it caved in,’’ he said.  

A boat diver, Tamuno Joseph, said he was engaged as part of a rescue team to search for the missing persons in the river, adding that the team was yet to recover any of the missing persons. 

“We have been searching everywhere to see if we can recover any corpse but we have not made any progress. 

It’s has been a very difficult task since the search started and no success has been recorded,” he said. 

Niger Delta Trust reports that members of the community have been thrown into mourning since the incident occurred. 

Both the state government and the police command are yet to comment on the incident when this report was filed.