15 passengers feared dead as boat capsizes
Fifteen people are feared dead after a boat plying Lake Victoria and carrying 20 passengers capsized near Sienga beach in Mbita District.
Only five passengers were rescued by other boats that were in the vicinity. They were taken to Mbita District Hospital for management of shock. The other 15 are still missing.
The 2pm incident occurred in the deep waters of the lake about 15 minutes after the boat had left Sena in Mfangano Island for Mbita.
Abdicate duty
Local fishermen were quick to attribute the incident to a storm, locally known as “nyakoyi”, that engulfed the lake, forcing the boat to capsize.
Unconfirmed reports, however, blamed the incident on overloading. The vessel had carried household goods like sofas and beds belonging to a fisherman who was moving to Mbita.
The chairman of the Beach Management Unit (BMU) in Ringiti, Mr Apollo Nyalwanda, said the boat had just left Sena before the accident.
Mbita police boss Cherono Githinji said rescue efforts involving her officers and medical personnel had been launched.
“We are off to Sienga beach on Rusinga Island in order to see what can be done to save the lives of the passengers,” said the police boss.
News of the accident swept Mbita Town like a bushfire, forcing several fishermen who were still relaxing after the night’s fishing to join the search.
Hundreds of residents of the town rushed to the beach to await boats that had left for rescue operations.
