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South African divers spotted on Tumbatu Island yesterday preparing to begin searching for bodies of Zanzibar marine tragedy victims still unaccounted for. (Photo: Khalfan Said) |
SA divers fail to reach sunk MV Spice Islander
By The guardian reporter
15th September 2011
South African divers spotted on Tumbatu Island yesterday preparing to begin searching for bodies of Zanzibar marine tragedy victims still unaccounted for. (Photo: Khalfan Said)Efforts to reach the sunken MV Spice Islander lying 360 metres deep in the water at Nungwi proved futile yesterday after divers discovered that the equipment they had could only go down 54metres.
The information dashed any hopes of the divers from South Africa reaching the boat to see if there were any more bodies trapped inside.
The Head of the Operation Colonel Joachim Zakaria said the divers informed them of the technical hitch, adding: “We have been informed by the head of divers from South Africa that he had communicated with his colleague on the possibility of bringing in a submarine and a special vessel for scanning the area of the accident but the process will be pending until June next year,” he said.
The scanning vessel has the capability to locate the area where the boat has sunk, making it easier to reach it by a submarine.
He was speaking to The Guardian yesterday aboard the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces Kasa boat which has docked between Tumbatu and Mwana Mwana Islands, to coordinate the diving operation which started on Tuesday, involving a group 22 divers from South Africa, TPDF and KMKM.
He said what they were doing currently was to go through the coastal areas of Tanga to Mombassa to establish if there were any more bodies and property which have been left out.
“Where the boat capsized is the route for marine vessels, thus it is the responsibility of the divers to clear it to avoid other accidents,” Colonel Zakaria said.
“What our colleagues are doing now in collaboration with Tanzanian divers is not to reach the sunken boat, but to ensure that the area is cleared,” said the Operations Assistant Colonel Joel Makunde.
A Commander of the South Africa Divers brigade Wyne Combrick said TPDF has asked them to remain for two weeks, to clear the area.
“The exercise is going on well although we have not managed to reach the capsized boat. We are proceeding with the work of ensuring the area surrounding the scene is cleared.
The MV Spice Islander capsized and sunk on Saturday on its way to Pemba from Dar es Salaam via Zanzibar.
According to the government report 202 people have so far been confirmed dead, while over 600 survived. Hundreds of people are still looking for missing relatives who were on the boat.
The death toll has risen slightly from 197 to 202 after five bodies were found along the shores of Mombasa in Kenya on Tuesday.
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Mbona wamekaa kama watalii!
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