Glimmer of hope as rescuers pull man from wreck of capsized Tanzanian ferry
Divers yesterday rescued a man from the wreck of a Tanzanian ferry that capsized on Lake Victoria on Thursday, killing more than 200 people.
Bodies continued to float to the surface around the vessel, which estimates suggested was carrying more than 300 people. State broadcaster TBC said the death toll had reached 209 yesterday.
A team of navy divers resumed their search inside the sunken MV Nyerere early yesterday after hearing sounds that suggested survivors.
They pulled the man out of the wreck and he was sent to hospital for treatment.
On Friday, President John Magufuli ordered the arrest of those responsible for the sinking.
Dozens of relatives stood by the shoreline, crying as they waited for information on their loved ones. Coffins were lined up near by awaiting the dead being pulled from the vessel, which lay bottom up in the water, metres from shore.
“The ferry overturned very fast and covered us,” survivor Charles Ngarima said. “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 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 a ship carrying special equipment to aid the rescue effort.
“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 said.
The ferry sank on Thursday evening, metres from the dock on Ukerewe, the lake’s biggest island, about 790 kilometres north-west of Dar es Salaam.