Three individuals are missing after a canoe they were traveling in capsized Tuesday evening on the Oti River in Dambai.
The canoe, carrying 11 passengers from Dambai, was en route to Njari, a farming and fishing community in Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region when the accident occurred.
Eight people have been rescued, but the search continues for the remaining three.
This incident follows the breakdown of the only ferry on the Oti River, forcing travelers to use canoes for crossing.
Travelers have called for the provision of a new ferry or the construction of a bridge over the Oti River.
Navy officials and local boat operators have launched a rescue operation to locate the missing individuals.
By 8 this morning, efforts resumed back up, and divers later found two bodies.
It had been understood two people were on the boat when it capsized.
On Friday evening, a coastguard spokesman told how its rescue teams from both Helensburgh and Greenock had been scrambled, along with a lifeboat from Helensburgh RNLI and the coastguard helicopter from Prestwick.
The spokesman added: ‘Multiple vessels on the Clyde in the vicinity of the incident also responded, including an MoD Police vessel.’
Police Scotland confirmed on Friday that officers from the force’s dive and marine unit and the air support unit had been involved in the search operation.
West Scotland MSP Neil Bibby tweeted earlier: ‘Very concerning news about the distressing accident off Greenock.
‘My thoughts are with the crew, their families and the rescue team at this worrying time.’
Two people were understood to have been on the boat when it capsized (Picture: Jane Barlow/ PA)Searches had resumed this morning (Picture: Jane Barlow/ PA)
A coastguard spokesman had said this morning: ‘HM Coastguard has been responding to reports of a capsized vessel off Custom House Quay in Greenock today, February 24.
‘It is believed the vessel had two crew members onboard.
‘Just before 3.30pm coastguard rescue teams from Helensburgh and Greenock, a lifeboat from Helensburgh RNLI and the coastguard helicopter from Prestwick were sent to assist and searched the area.
‘Multiple vessels on the Clyde in the vicinity of the incident also responded, including an MoD Police vessel.
Police, the coastguard and the Ministry of Defence had worked on the search (Picture: Jane Barlow/ PA)The scene in East India Harbour, Greenock, yesterday evening (Picture: PA)
‘The coastguard’s involvement in the surface search was terminated at 8pm.’
A Police Scotland spokesperson had said: ‘Police were made aware of a tugboat having capsized off Custom House Quay in Greenock around 3.30pm on February 24.
‘Emergency services attended, including HM Coastguard and RNLI.
‘Officers, including Police Scotland’s Dive and Marine Unit and Air Support Unit, have been carrying out searches in the area and these searches will resume on the morning of February 25.
‘Inquiries are ongoing, assisted by partners, to establish the full circumstances.’
