Lake Victoria, Tanzania: Hundreds feared missing as ferry capsizes

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Hundreds of people are feared missing after a ferry capsized on Lake Victoria in north Tanzania.

A local official told the BBC five people have died and 102 have been rescued, but another said that the vessel was overloaded with more than 400 people on board.

The MV Nyerere ferry overturned near the shore between the islands of Ukora and Bugolora.

Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45594513

---

AFP: More than 40 dead, Tanzanian government spokesman says

[sinkingfeeling]

1. So sad.

[secondwind]

2. 400 people??!!? that's insane

[TeamPooka]

3. tragic

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Lake Victoria, Tanzania ferry disaster death toll doubles

At least 86 people have known to have died after a ferry carrying hundreds of people capsized on Lake Victoria, Tanzania, officials say.

It is feared that more than 200 people may have drowned. Recovery efforts have resumed after being halted overnight.
...
Mwanza Regional Commissioner John Mongella said that 42 more deaths had been confirmed on Friday, after 44 on Thursday.

He says 37 people have been rescued and are in critical condition. This is lower than the 100 rescues initially reported by local officials on Thursday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45599042

[DFW]

5. Lake Victoria seems to get a lot of human casualties

Thousands of casualties in the Hutu-Tutsi war 25 years ago ended up washing into Lake Victoria

There is a huge edible fish native to the lake known as Lake Victoria Perch. It is sold at fish markets all over Germany. We have refused to touch it, since these fish have been munching on people for over 25 years now (probably way longer), and the thought of what they might have been feeding on is very unnerving.

[MissB]

7. That's horrific

[DFW]

8. WE think so, anyway

But it doesn't seem to bother anyone else.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Death toll now 131

Tanzania's president orders arrests as ferry death toll climbs

Tanzania’s president John Magufuli has ordered the arrest of the managers of a ferry that capsized in Lake Victoria, after the death toll climbed above 130 and rescue workers pressed on with the search for scores more still missing.

Initial estimates suggested that the MV Nyerere was carrying as many as 300 people when it capsized near the dock on the island Ukara. The precise number was unknown, however, because the ticket-seller had drowned and the machine recording sales had not been found.
...
The president also declared four days of national mourning, while saying at least 131 people had died, updating an earlier death toll of 126.

At least 40 people were brought to safety on Thursday, some in “a very bad condition”, said John Mongella, the commissioner for the Mwanza region in northern Tanzania.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/21/tanzanias-president-orders-arrests-as-ferry-death-toll-climbs

[Eugene]

9. Death toll 209 as survivor found in capsized Tanzania ferry

Source: Associated Press

Death toll 209 as survivor found in capsized Tanzania ferry

By TOM ODULA
44 minutes ago

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The death toll soared past 200 while a survivor was found inside a capsized Tanzania ferry two days after the Lake Victoria disaster, officials said Saturday, while search efforts were ending to focus on identifying bodies.

The survivor, an engineer, was found near the engine of the overturned vessel, Mwanza regional commissioner John Mongella told reporters. The Tanzanian Broadcasting Corporation, which reported the death toll, said he had shut himself into the engine room. His condition was not immediately known.

Colorfully painted coffins arrived, and the work would now focus on identifying bodies, Tanzania’s defense chief Venance Mabeyo told reporters at the scene. Families of victims gathered and prepared to claim the dead.

One woman dropped to her knees in the sand next to the covered body of her sister and wept.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/eed0384e4103431f82bfe68293526c27/Survivor-found-inside-capsized-Tanzania-ferry;-toll-hits-209

[Demovictory9]

10. Sad.