Tanzania: Seven Die As Boat Sinks

Zanzibar — SEVEN people are presumed dead after a boat christened Mv Sunrise capsized between Tanga in Tanzania Mainland and Nungwi in Zanzibar yesterday afternoon.

According to the Director of Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA), Mr Abdi Khamis Maalim, the boat capsized at around 5:00 am yesterday with 32 people aboard.

“Twenty-five people (20 men and five women) have been rescued but seven are still missing and are presumed dead. The presumed dead include two men, two women, two female children and one male child,” said Mr Abdi.

According to him, Mv Sunrise which is licensed to carry only cargo, left Pangani port in Tanga Region at around 2:00 am destined for Nungwi in the north of Zanzibar. Some survivors stated that the cargo boat left Pangani/Tanga port late evening on Wednesday and was struck by strong wind after midnight on Thursday.

“It was a night accident, unfortunately because of lack of communication the news reached us in the afternoon. Fishermen who were on their daily fishing activity helped to rescue 21 people,” said the North Unguja Regional Commissioner, Mr Pemba Khamis. The Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Ahmada Khamis said: “We have not received any body out of the missing people.

A search by the Zanzibar navy continues. I think the boat carried people illegally. Three children are among the missing.” Khamis warned marine vessel operators to avoid night journeys considering the current weather where there is strong wind in the India Ocean.

Last year Mv Skagit, a passenger ship, capsized killing more than 200 people. Meanwhile, FATMA ABDU reports that two children died on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam when a vehicle heading from Temeke veered off the main road and knocked them.

The Ilala Regional Police Commander (RPC), Ms Marietha Minangi said the driver of the vehicle, a Canter with registration number T 324 APW, ran way after knocking the two children. RPC Minangi named the deceased as Hassan Yusuph (8) a Std II pupil at Mjimwema Primary School and Amour Yusuph (6), a resident of Kwa Aziz Ally area in Mtoni, Temeke District.

“The bodies of the two children have been taken to Temeke Hospital Mortuary for preservation. Police have launched a manhunt for the driver who ran away after the accident,” RPC Minangi said.

In another development, a faulty electric cable has caused fire that razed four warehouses and several machines belonging to Cotex industry in Mbezi Jogoo in Kinondoni District. The Kinondoni Regional Police Commander (RPC), Charles Kenyela, said that the incident that occurred on Wednesday evening did not cause any casualties.