Zanzibar: Tragedy in Zanzibar as ferry sinks
At least 24 people, including two Europeans, perished and
many more remain missing after a ferry capsized off the coast of Zanzibar on
Wednesday, government officials said.
many more remain missing after a ferry capsized off the coast of Zanzibar on
Wednesday, government officials said.
The vessel, which was officially carrying almost 290
passengers and crew, including more than 30 children, went down in choppy
waters near the Indian Ocean archipelago after leaving Tanzania’s commercial
capital Dar-es-Salaam.
passengers and crew, including more than 30 children, went down in choppy
waters near the Indian Ocean archipelago after leaving Tanzania’s commercial
capital Dar-es-Salaam.
“We have so far received 24 bodies, including two
Europeans,” Zanzibar’s transport minister Hamad Masoud Hamad told
journalists gathered at the main hospital after the sinking of the MV Kalama.
Europeans,” Zanzibar’s transport minister Hamad Masoud Hamad told
journalists gathered at the main hospital after the sinking of the MV Kalama.
It was the second such ferry disaster in Zanzibar, a
semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in less than a year.
semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in less than a year.
“The rescue operations are continuing and 124 people
have already been found alive and we hope that others will be saved,”
Tanzania’s Interior Minister Emmanuel Nchimbi said.
have already been found alive and we hope that others will be saved,”
Tanzania’s Interior Minister Emmanuel Nchimbi said.
Saidi Shabaani, an official in the second vice president’s
office, said the ferry was carrying 251 adults, 31 children and six crew,
according to the passenger list, when the accident occurred at around 0930 GMT.
office, said the ferry was carrying 251 adults, 31 children and six crew,
according to the passenger list, when the accident occurred at around 0930 GMT.
Ferries in the region very often carry additional passengers
who do not feature on the official manifest.
who do not feature on the official manifest.
“This is another tragedy we are investigating. rescue
teams from the police and navy have rushed to the scene,” Shaabani told
AFP.
teams from the police and navy have rushed to the scene,” Shaabani told
AFP.
“We are asking for peace and calm among Zanzibaris and
ask them to have faith that the government is doing all it can in these
times,” Zanzibar’s Vice President Seif Ali Idd told journalists on the
quayside.
ask them to have faith that the government is doing all it can in these
times,” Zanzibar’s Vice President Seif Ali Idd told journalists on the
quayside.
Tanzanian state television reported that the ferry, which
was also carrying cargo, had sunk completely.
was also carrying cargo, had sunk completely.
According to a statement from Tanzania’s Surface and Marine
Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA) the MV Kalama left Dar es Salaam
around midday and issued an alert signal after reaching waters off Chumbe
Island. The journey usually takes about two hours.
Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA) the MV Kalama left Dar es Salaam
around midday and issued an alert signal after reaching waters off Chumbe
Island. The journey usually takes about two hours.
An employee at the eco lodge on Chumbe, however, said the
vessel appeared to have actually capsized off another small island close by,
Kwale and that rescue teams had sailed past Chumbe.
vessel appeared to have actually capsized off another small island close by,
Kwale and that rescue teams had sailed past Chumbe.
More than 200 people perished in September 2011 when the
ferry Spice Islander capsized while sailing between two of the three main
islands that make up Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in one of
the worst maritime disasters in Africa in the past decade.
ferry Spice Islander capsized while sailing between two of the three main
islands that make up Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in one of
the worst maritime disasters in Africa in the past decade.
The September disaster is believed to have been caused by
overloading, with some angry survivors accusing port and ferry officials of
having ignored the protests of passengers that the boat was overcrowded.
overloading, with some angry survivors accusing port and ferry officials of
having ignored the protests of passengers that the boat was overcrowded.
Source: Daily Nation
Newspaper, Kenya
Newspaper, Kenya
