Tanzania mourns 224 deaths from capsized ferry at funeral
UKARA ISLAND, Tanzania — Relatives wept in grief Sunday at the mass burial in Tanzania of many of the 224 people who drowned when a ferry in capsized on Lake Victoria.
Colorfully painted coffins were lined up to go into graves on Ukara Island. Grieving family members placed wreaths of flowers on the coffins.
The overloaded boat tipped over Thursday as it got 55 yards from the island’s dock. People carrying their goods from a busy market day prepared to disembark, unbalancing the ferry, which turned over. Horrified fishermen and others watched from the shore.
Identifications have been made for 172 people who died in the boat tragedy, Tanzania’s Minister of Works, Transport and Communication Isack Kamwelwe said. The bodies of 37 others have not been identified, he told the broadcaster. At least 40 people were rescued, officials said.
Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa led mourners at the funeral service.
“Our country has been hit by a big tragedy. We lost brothers, relatives and friends. Our call is for us to be united during this hard time and understand that our countrymen have been left by beloved parents, brothers, sisters, children and friends in this big tragedy,” he said. “So we need to console them instead of feeding them with bad words. Let’s leave the government and relevant authorities to do their work.”
On Saturday rescuers found a survivor two days after the tragedy. The man was identified as an engineer of the ferry. His condition was not known.