NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - A survivor has been found inside a capsized Tanzanian ferry two days after the disaster on Lake Victoria, an official said Saturday, while coffins arrived for at least 167 victims and counting.
An engineer was found near the engine of the upturned vessel, Mwanza regional commissioner John Mongella told reporters. The Tanzanian Broadcasting Corporation reported he had shut himself into the engine room. His condition was not immediately clear.
Search efforts continued around the ferry's exposed underside as families of victims prepared to claim the dead. No one knows how many people were on board the ferry, which had a capacity of 101. Officials on Friday said at least 40 people had been rescued.
The government's Chief Secretary John Kijazi announced the rising death toll to reporters after President John Magufuli ordered the arrests of those responsible.
"This is a great disaster for our nation," Magufuli said, announcing four days of national mourning.
The badly overloaded ferry capsized in the final stretch before shore on Thursday afternoon as people returning from a busy market day shifted and prepared to disembark. Horrified fishermen and other witnesses have expressed fear that more than 200 could have died.
Pope Francis, the United Nations secretary-general, Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of African leaders have expressed shock and sorrow.
The MV Nyerere, named for the former president who led the East African nation to independence, was traveling between the islands of Ukara and Ukerewe when it sank, according to the government agency in charge of servicing the vessels.
Accidents are often reported on the large freshwater lake surrounded by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Some of the deadliest have occurred in Tanzania, where aging passenger ferries often carry hundreds of passengers and well beyond capacity.
In 1996, more than 800 people died when passenger and cargo ferry MV Bukoba sank on Lake Victoria.
Nearly 200 people died in 2011 when the MV Spice Islander I sank off Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast near Zanzibar.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Tanzia - Jah Kimbute
TANZIA: MFALME WA REGGAE JAH KIMBUTE AFARIKI DUNIA DAR ES SALAAM
Habari zilizotufikia katika chumba chetu cha habari usiku huu zinasema kwamba gwiji wa muziki wa reggae nchini Jah Kimbute amefariki dunia nyumbani kwake Msasani jijini Dar es salaam, mshirika wa karibu wa marehemu David Msitta Manju, amethibitisha.
Akiongea nasi kwa njia ya simu kutoka Mwanza aliko kikazi, Manju amesema amepata habari usiku huu kwamba Jah Kimbute amefariki dunia Alhamisi jioni nyumbani kwake.
Amesema kwamba amepata taarifa hizo toka kwa mkewe aliyeko jijini Tanga na kwamba mipango ya mazishi itajulikana leo asubuhi baada ya ndugu kukusanyika.
Mke wa marehemu pia alithibitisha habari hizo akiwa Tanga, na kusema kila kitu kitafahamika baada ya ndugu wa Jah Kimbute kukutana.
Amesema marehemu alikuwa akiishi na mwanae nyumbani kwake Msasani na kwamba jana jioni alipokwenda chumbani kwake alimkuta amefariki.
"Hizi habari tumezipata usiku huu na sasa ndugu wa marehemu ambao wengi wako Lushoto wanakusanyika tayari kwa safari ya Dar es salaam kesho kukamimlisha mipango yote.
Jah Kimbute, ambaye jina lake halisi alikuwa Samwel Mleteni, alitamba sana katika anga ya muziki na kuitwa Mfalme wa Reggae wa Tanzania miaka ya 80 akiwa na kundi lake la Roots and Culture lililokuwa na makaazi yake jijini Dar es salaam.
Akiongea nasi kwa njia ya simu kutoka Mwanza aliko kikazi, Manju amesema amepata habari usiku huu kwamba Jah Kimbute amefariki dunia Alhamisi jioni nyumbani kwake.
Amesema kwamba amepata taarifa hizo toka kwa mkewe aliyeko jijini Tanga na kwamba mipango ya mazishi itajulikana leo asubuhi baada ya ndugu kukusanyika.
Mke wa marehemu pia alithibitisha habari hizo akiwa Tanga, na kusema kila kitu kitafahamika baada ya ndugu wa Jah Kimbute kukutana.
Amesema marehemu alikuwa akiishi na mwanae nyumbani kwake Msasani na kwamba jana jioni alipokwenda chumbani kwake alimkuta amefariki.
"Hizi habari tumezipata usiku huu na sasa ndugu wa marehemu ambao wengi wako Lushoto wanakusanyika tayari kwa safari ya Dar es salaam kesho kukamimlisha mipango yote.
Jah Kimbute, ambaye jina lake halisi alikuwa Samwel Mleteni, alitamba sana katika anga ya muziki na kuitwa Mfalme wa Reggae wa Tanzania miaka ya 80 akiwa na kundi lake la Roots and Culture lililokuwa na makaazi yake jijini Dar es salaam.
Ferry MV Nyerere Yazama Ziwa Victoria - Watu zaidi ya 400 Wahofia Kufa
Inasdikiwa kuwa watu zaidi ya 400 wamekufa baada ya Feri ya MV Nyerere kuzama Ziwa Victoria siku ya Alhamisi. Feri ilizama karibu na kitou cha Ukara Island. Ilikuwa na uwezo ya kubeba abiria mia lakini watu waansema ilikuwa imebeba zaidi ya watu 400. Siku ya alhamisi iliku siku ya watu kwenda Sokoni 'Market Day', kwenda kununua na kuuza bidhaa mbalimbali. Raisi Magufuli amesema kuwa nahodha wa Ferry hakuwa na kipaji cha kuendesha feri hiyo.
MV Nyerere ikiwa kazini Ziwa Victoria |
MV Nyerere baada ya kuzama Ziwa Victoria |
Jitihada za Uokoaji |