Mass drowning horror as 76 people die when boat capsizes in swollen river after record floods in Nigeria

AT LEAST 76 people have died after a boat capsized in a swollen river following record floods in Nigeria.

The crowded vessel - packed with 85 passengers - tipped over as it travelled down the overflowing Niger River on Friday.

Most of the victims of the mass drowning were women and children desperately trying to reach safety from the rising waters.

President Muhammadu Buhari announced the shocking death toll in a solemn statement on Sunday.

He explained: "The boat reportedly carrying 85 persons capsized following rising floods in Ogbaru area of the state, with emergency services confirming a death toll of 76.

"I pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for everyone's safety, as well as the well-being of the family members of the victims of this tragic accident."

He ordered a review of safety measures for the nation's water transport system in wake of the horror mass drowning.

President Buhari told government agencies "to check the safety protocols on these transport ferries to make sure such incidents are avoided in the future".

Expert teams and a fleet of Air Force helicopters were drafted in for the complex rescue operation that spilled across the weekend.

The rising water levels hampered efforts to retrieve the dead and continue the search for any survivors.

Thickman Tanimu, the southeast coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said: "The water level is very high and too risky for a smooth search and rescue operation."

Benard Achonu, 60, told the his wife and three of his children - aged between two and six - had drowned in the tragedy.

The devastated dad explained they had been fleeing the floodwaters before heartbreakingly adding: "My life has fallen apart."

Another local told how grief-stricken relatives of the dead are now "wondering how to bury the bodies" as there is no dry land left in the area.

Reports suggest those on board were travelling to the Nkwo market in Ogbakuba from the Ogbaru area in Anambra.

Nigeria is battling its worst floods in a decade, with authorities admitting the situation was "beyond our control."

Residents in deluged areas were urged to evacuate as officials promised disaster relief would be provided.

Since the beginning of the season, the nation has been ravaged by unprecedented rainfall sparking catastrophic floods.

More than 300 people have been killed and at least 100,000 have lost their homes, according to officials.

And the relentless downpours have washed away farmland and crops, igniting fears residents could soon face food shortages.

Boat accidents are common in Nigeria and are mainly attributed to overloading and poor safety measures.