At least 20 people were killed in a wooden boat crash on Saturday on the Benue River in central Nigeria. This was disclosed by local authorities.

Local government spokesman Melvin James said the incident occurred in Benue state as traders were returning from a weekly market, news.cn reported.

“Several people are still missing,” he said, adding that search and rescue efforts were ongoing.

According to an eyewitness, the victims were mostly women and children.