Bunda accident: chances of rescue slim

MARA: At least one person has been confirmed dead and seven others missing after their boat capsized over the weekend at Bulomba Ward, Bunda District, Mara Region, in Lake Victoria. Authorities and the rescue team are still on search but chances remain slim.

Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) announced on Tuesday that the accident had resulted from overloading and a leak on the vessel which allowed water.

TASAC said the life jackets were not available as the vessel was not designed for passengers.

The capsized boat was hired to carry about 21 passengers, 14 of them were rescued, seven passengers have not yet been found and one found dead.

Among the missing people, five are men and two of them are women.

However, TASAC stated that the searching and rescuing exercise is still going on.

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On the other hand, Bunda District Commissioner Dr Vicent Naano said that the accident involved villagers from Bulomba who were returning home from a wedding ceremony in Ilamba Ward, also on the lake.

The DC noted that the boat was not equipped with extra safety gears and it was not authorised to carry passengers.

Two boats had been hired for the wedding ceremony; however, the boat carrying the bride safely arrived at its destination. In the course, the captain of the boat that capsized is now on the run.

Dr Naano has ordered the arrest of the boats’ captains and proprietors.

“They must be arrested immediately to face charges including violations of marine laws, as transporting passengers on such vessels is strictly prohibited,” he said.