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| Mwanza Regional Commissioner Said Mtanda maintained a vigilant presence at the accident site. Photo: Courtesy. |
By Adonis Byemelwa
Mwanza--Survivors
of the ill-fated MV Sea Falcon boat, which capsized midweek with over 30
passengers on board, have shared their traumatic experiences following the
disaster. The boat was traveling from Kirumba in the Mwanza Region to Goziba
Island in Kagera Region when it sank on Lake Victoria, just two kilometers from
the shore near the Bwiru landing site in Ilemela District. The incident
occurred around 6 pm Wednesday, with the passengers left stranded until they
were finally rescued around 10 pm.
Among
those recuperating at Sekou Toure Regional Referral Hospital is Noris Mwene, a
trader from Mbagala, Dar es Salaam, who detailed the tragic series of events.
"After about a kilometer into the journey, the captain and his assistant
debated returning to shore for something they had forgotten, but ultimately
decided to continue, despite the boat filling with water," she recounted.
As
water steadily filled the boat, the situation worsened. According to Mwene, the
crew, in a desperate bid to keep the vessel afloat, began dumping fuel from
barrels on board. Despite their efforts, the situation became increasingly
dire, with the passengers left waiting for hours before help arrived.
Fishermen
eventually reached the scene around 10 pm, but they only took the cargo,
including the fuel barrels and money, leaving the passengers stranded.
"The barrels kept hitting us, and we ended up swallowing the petrol,"
Mwene said.
Another
survivor, Lucia Kubagwa, a trader from Nyarugusu in Geita Region, recalled the
panic that ensued. She, along with others, had initially missed their intended
boat at Kirumba dock and boarded MV Sea Falcon instead. "We screamed for
help, but no one came," Kubagwa said. "We were forced to dump petrol
into the lake and float on the barrels. I can still feel the effects of the
petrol I swallowed."
Joseph
Masole, an operator at the Bwiru landing site, described the rescue efforts.
Once alerted by a passenger who made it to shore, Masole sent out small boats
to assist and contacted security agencies. However, by the time help arrived,
much of the damage had already been done.
Dr. Bahati Msaki, the medical officer in
charge at Sekou Toure Hospital, confirmed that 28 survivors were treated,
including 22 men and eight women. By mid-afternoon yesterday, 14 had been
discharged, though several others remained under observation. Tragically, the
body of a six-year-old boy, Kharidi Rajabu, a primary school pupil from Goziba
Island, was recovered. One additional passenger is still missing.
Wilbrod
Mutafungwa, the regional police commander, confirmed that three individuals had
been arrested in connection with the disaster. These include the boat’s owner,
Amon Lutabanzibwa, who faces charges of operating without a permit from the
Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), as well as the boat’s captain,
Robert Kabota, and supervisor, Salum Shaban, both of whom are accused of
violating maritime transport regulations. Mutafungwa confirmed that 30 of the
32 passengers accounted for had survived.
The
tragedy has reignited concerns about Tanzania’s marine safety standards, which
have been criticized for their lack of enforcement. Marine transport expert
Ibrahim Bendera, speaking on UTV yesterday, pointed out the recurring issue of
unregulated boats operating without proper safety measures. "We continue
to see boat operators flouting regulations, with little accountability,"
Bendera remarked. He stressed that several African countries, such as Kenya and
South Africa, have taken strict measures to prevent such incidents by ensuring
mandatory inspections, safety drills, and better crew training. "In
Tanzania, however, we are still lagging, and this is costing lives,"
Bendera noted.
Over
the years, Tanzania has experienced many maritime disasters, including the 2018
MV Nyerere ferry accident, which claimed over 200 lives, and the 2011 MV Spice
Islander tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people. Both
incidents exposed significant flaws in marine regulations and the enforcement
of safety measures, and yet, little seems to have changed.
Bendera
emphasized that the government must prioritize marine safety by enforcing
regulations, inspecting vessels, and ensuring that operators are fully licensed
and trained. "Lives are being lost because of negligence. We need a
comprehensive overhaul of our marine safety system, starting with holding
operators accountable," he argued.
Mwanza
Regional Commissioner Said Mtanda announced that the government would cover the
medical expenses of the survivors still in the hospital and called for patience
from families of those still missing, as search operations are ongoing.
As
rescue and recovery efforts continue, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of
the urgent need for improved safety standards in Tanzania's marine transport
sector.