A Nigerian crew member has been confirmed dead after the tugboat LEO sank in South African waters on Saturday night, the Federal Government has said.

The vessel, carrying 18 people, reportedly ran aground amid rough weather conditions while sailing off the coast between Cape Town and Durban. Twelve crew members were rescued, while five others remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.

In a statement issued through the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Magnus Eze, the government said South African transport authorities alerted Nigerian officials after the vessel encountered difficulties about 18 nautical miles offshore.

Officials said the tugboat was returning to Lagos after undergoing repairs in South Africa when it ran aground during stormy weather.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, confirmed that one person died in the incident and five crew members are still unaccounted for.

She added that the rescued survivors are being transported to Port Elizabeth, where officials of the Nigerian High Commission are expected to receive them and provide assistance.

The Federal Government said it is in close contact with South African authorities as efforts intensify to locate the missing crew members. Maritime authorities are still investigating the cause of the sinking, though severe weather has been identified as a likely contributing factor.