Survivor pulled from capsized Tanzanian ferry as death toll reaches 218

Bodies continued to float to the surface around the vessel, which initial estimates suggested had been carrying more than 300 people. State broadcaster TBC said late on Saturday the death toll had reached 218.

Four navy divers resumed their search inside the sunken MV Nyerere early on Saturday after hearing sounds that suggested signs of life.

They pulled one man out of the overturned ship and he was rushed to hospital, a Reuters witness said. His condition was not immediately known.

On Friday, President John Magufuli ordered the arrest of those responsible for the sinking.

Advertisement

Dozens of relatives stood crying by the shoreline as they waited for information on their loved ones. Coffins were lined up nearby awaiting bodies being pulled from the vessel, which lay belly up in the water just metres from the shoreline.

“The ferry overturned very fast and covered us,” survivor Charles Ngarima told Reuters. “I was lucky that I was able to swim under water not knowing where I was swimming to… While trying to swim to safety, I found a number of metal bars that cut my face and the back of my head.”

Another survivor, Jennifer Idhoze, said the ferry had capsized because it was overloaded. “I was able to jump out of the ferry… That is how I survived,” she said.

Works, Transport and Communication Minister Isack Kamwelwe said the government was sending special equipment to aid the rescue effort.

Advertisement

“This equipment will increase efficiency in the rescue operation and we will continue with the search until we are satisfied that we have rescued everyone,” he told Reuters.

The ferry sank on Thursday evening just a few metres from the dock on Ukerewe, the lake’s biggest island.

Related posts:

Survivor pulled from capsized Tanzanian ferry as death toll reaches 183 Death toll in capsized Philippine ferries climbs to 31 Death toll from Coronavirus in South Korea reaches seven Death toll from coronavirus in Iran reaches 54, with 978 infected Death toll in Coronavirus outside China reaches 1,130 – WHO Coronavirus cases hit 386,406 globally, death toll reaches 16,747 – WHO COVID-19 second wave: India death toll crosses 150,000, total case reaches 10,374,932 Death Recorded In Capsized Rig was a British National -Seplat