Nigeria, Aug. 18 -- At least 30 people, mostly traders, are feared to have died after an overloaded boat capsized in Sokoto State on Sunday afternoon.

The vessel was taking dozens of passengers, along with goods including motorcycles, to the weekly Goronyo market when it overturned in Kojiyo village at about 1:30 p.m.

Local officials confirmed the boat was overcrowded, though the exact number of people on board is unknown.

The chairman of the Goronyo Local Government, Zubairu Yari, said four people had been rescued alive, while the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) later put the number rescued at six as dozens remain missing.

Rescue operations involving local divers and state emergency team members were frustrated by strong cur...