The Calabar Area Office of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) says it has successfully rescued two young sand miners after their boat capsized along the Calabar channel, following a sudden surge in tidal waves.
According to a official statement from NIWA which was made available to our correspondent noted that the incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Monday when the miners’ boat was overtaken by rough waters, leaving the young men in immediate danger.
The NIWA patrol team, while on routine water surveillance, quickly responded after receiving a distress call. The team immediately initiated a rescue operation, arriving on scene promptly to find the miners struggling to stay afloat and gasping for breath.
NIWA stated that although their sand-laden boat had completely submerged, the two men, aged 23 and 25, were successfully pulled from the water, revived, and later handed over to their families.
NIWA highlighted the importance of their regular patrols and swift response capabilities in preventing potentially fatal incidents on the Calabar waterways.
“This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by rough tides and the need for caution and proper safety measures during waterway operations” the statement noted.
