Monday, January 2, 2012

Nine dead in Lamu boat tragedy


Written By:Judith Akolo/Reuters,    Posted: Mon, Jan 02, 2012

Survivors say the boat was overloaded with people and baggage (FILE)
At least nine people died and many more feared missing after a boat carrying dozens of passengers hit another vessel and capsized off the Kenyan island of Lamu on Sunday evening.
Kenya Red Cross confirmed that there were nine fatalities, 25 were rescued, 23 swam to shore while 15 are still missing.
Coast PPO Aggrey Adoli confirmed the incident and said rescue operations are still underway but feared the death toll could be higher.
"The boat did not have a manifest and we fear that the number could rise as the rescue operations continue in Lamu," said Adoli on phone.  
KRCS spokeswoman Nelly Muluka-Oluoch said the boat may have been carrying up to 80 passengers. adding that rescue teams were searching for more survivors.
The boat was ferrying passengers from Lamu to Mokoe when it collided with the other transporting fuel supplies in drums.
The two boats according to Adoli did not have lighting. The boat christened Safina was travelling to Mokoe from Lamu Archipelago, loaded with passengers who had just enjoyed the New Year festivities in Lamu, most were students returning to schools on the mainland.
A Lamu resident at the hospital on Lamu Island said 13 passengers, including five children, had been admitted for treatment after being pulled from the water.
He said the small ferries typically take up to about 50 passengers from the island to the mainland, but survivors said the boat was overloaded with people and baggage.
Officials in Lamu said they were still trying to determine the exact number of passengers and how many people had managed to make it to shore but did not yet have precise figures.
Kenya Red Cross and Kenya Navy teams are conducting search and rescue operations.
Kenyans flock to the Indian Ocean coast over Christmas and New Year for holidays and Lamu is a popular tourist destination.
The Archipelago also hosts various activities such as boat races, as part of the new year festivities.

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