Africa
Sinking feeling in Zanzibar over slow response to ship accident
Zanzibari President Abeid Karume (second from left) with ministers and port authority officials at the scene of the ship accident on Saturday. Three bodies have been recovered from the cargo ship which capsized on Friday. Photos/ MPOKI BUKUKU
Posted Sunday, May 31 2009 at 18:07
In Summary
- Rescue teams arrive 10 hours too late as President Karume asks Dar for help
It was not immediately possible to know the exact number of people on board the MV Fatih at the time of the accident.
The ship’s coxswain, Mr Ussi Ali Ussi, who was being held by the police for questioning, said it was carrying 25 passengers and 13 crew members when it sunk. Survivors claimed there were more than 50 people aboard.
The coxswain said it had also 40 tonnes of cargo. But the Surface and Marine Tranport Authority spokesperson in Dar es Salaam Mr David Mziray said it left with 70 tonnes of cargo, including vehicles, rice and cement.
The coxswain reportedly told the police that he experienced problems with his steering as he approached the port. Other accounts showed the ship may have been overloaded.
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