Ferry capsized killing at least 38 people Tanzania Update

Rescue workers fought rough seas on Thursday to search for more than 100 people missing after an overcrowded ferry sank near the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar, but hopes of finding survivors were slim. At least 38 people, including an American citizen, were confirmed dead and 145 were rescued after the MV Skagit/Kalama passenger boat capsized on Wednesday around midday near Chumbe island, west of Zanzibar. The vessel had set sail from mainland Tanzania to the semi-autonomous archipelago, a popular tourist beach destination. Hundreds of people gathered at the Maisara Grounds park near Zanzibar’s historic Stone Town area on Thursday to identify the bodies of victims laid out in a tent. Tatu Kwiyela, a 35-year-old woman from mainland Tanzania, survived the accident, but lost her nine-month-old son. “I was swept away by strong waves and lost my son, Saidi Jumanne. I tried to hang on to him but he disappeared into the sea,” said Tatu, who managed to identify his remains.

Police said more than 10 foreign tourists, including a group of Dutch holidaymakers, were among the rescued passengers. “One of those killed in the ferry accident is an American citizen. The body has been recovered and is being preserved at a mortuary,” Zanzibar police spokesman Mohammed Mhina said. The ferry, with a maximum carrying capacity of 250 people according to Zanzibar marine authorities, was carrying 290 people, said officials. “We have recovered seven more bodies today, so the death toll has now risen to 38, with 145 survivors,” Zanzibar Police Commissioner Mussa Ali Mussa said. “You can say it is not humanly possible to find anyone alive at this point. However, with God’s grace the possibility is still there … Sometimes you can find people alive after a month at sea, so we are not giving up all hope.” Police said rescue workers, who had suspended their search at nightfall, had resumed operations on Thursday to try to recover more bodies or rescue people who might have drifted from the ferry. “We have boats and a police helicopter looking for survivors, but they are battling with heavy winds and rough seas,” said Mussa.Zanzibar.

Ferry capsized killing at least 24 people Tanzania

A ferry with more than 280 people on board, including some foreigners, capsized and sank between the east African coast and the Zanzibar archipelago on Wednesday, killing at least 24 people, the government said. Infrastructure Minister Hamad Masoud said 145 people had so far been rescued. “Twenty-four bodies have been recovered,” he told Reuters by telephone. The ferry, MV Skagit/Kalama, set sail from mainland Tanzania at around midday for Zanzibar, Tanzania’s semi-autonomous archipelago and a popular tourist destination. Rescue boats and divers were searching for any remaining survivors on the mostly submerged vessel. “One foreigner, a woman, is among the dead. Thirteen other foreigners were rescued and are in hospital,” government spokesman Yusuf Chunda said. It was not clear how many other foreigners had been on board. Police said the vessel was carrying 250 adult passengers and 31 children when it capsized near Chumbe island, west of Zanzibar. Zanzibar police spokesman Mohammed Mhina said by telephone that many passengers were missing but added “we don’t know how many of them sank with the boat.” “The rescue operation is ongoing as we speak but almost the entire boat has been submerged in water … only a small part of the boat is now visible.” Preliminary reports indicated the vessel had capsized after being hit by strong winds and waves, he said. The ferry is owned by a company named Seagull, which also runs a number of other ferries. Previous reports had indicated the vessel was called MV Salama. More than 200 people were killed when a crowded ferry sank in September off the coast of east Africa in the worst maritime disaster in the history of Zanzibar.