At least 47 people have died after a boat capsized in a river in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Sokoto on Thursday, according to officials and local residents.

The vessel was carrying upwards of 80 passengers, the majority travelling to work on farms in the town of Gorau, located within the Goronyo local government area, officials said.

Abdulkadir Yusuf, Sokoto state manager at the National Inland Waterways Authority, confirmed that the death toll stood at 47 people "so far."

Resident Samaila Garba, 55, said his 13-year-old granddaughter, Jamila Usman, died in the capsizing. He recounted counting at least 42 bodies of victims, predominantly women and children.

"You know, during the rainy season, most women and children go to the farm to work," he told The Associated Press.

Another resident, Aminu Dan Hajiya, who travels along the same waterway to reach his farm, said he considered himself fortunate not to have boarded the craft. "In fact, almost every household in the community has been affected," he said.

Usman Yusuf, a community leader in Gorau, stated that more than 80 passengers were on board, adding that 41 people have been buried so far.

Fatal boat accidents are a frequent occurrence across Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season. A widespread lack of safety regulation enforcement permits faulty vessels lacking life jackets to operate in the country. In January, at least 25 people were killed in Yobe state during a similar accident.