Panic as strong sea currents push ferry off its course at Likoni

Panic gripped about 1,400 ferry passengers on board MV Kwale Saturday when the vessel was washed off its course by heavy currents at the Likoni crossing channel.

The ferry, according to eyewitnesses, had stalled before it was 'pushed’ by strong waves off it course towards the deep sea entrance to the port of Mombasa.

Two women, Ms Mwanakombo Ali, 22, and Rebecca Paul, 26, were rushed to hospital for medication after they dived and swam in the sea for fear of drowning.

Ms Ali said they tried to swim when the vessel was pushed by sea waves to the shallow waters at Mama Ngina Drive.

“We had to dive because it was a matter of life and death. We panicked for over three hours waiting in vain for rescue,” she said.

But contacted by phone, Kenya Ferry Services public relations officer Aaron Mutiso dismissed claims that the vessel had mechanical problems that caused it to be pushed by strong winds.

“The vessel was struck by strong sea waves that could not be controlled by the pilot. The waves pulled it towards the deep sea and docked in a cliff at Mama Ngina Drive where the passengers safely alighted,” he said.

According to him, no other ferry could reach the stalled MV Kwale because of the shallow depth of the sea at the point it was grounded.

SHALLOW WATERS

“We could not send a rescue ferry due to the shallow waters which could destroy the propellers of other vessels so the issue of passengers being rescued by MV Harambee does not arise,” he said.

The ill-fated vessel with capacity of 60 vehicles ran into trouble 10 minutes after leaving Mombasa Island to the mainland sparking panic among its passengers when it started drifting off course.

Another victim, Ms Caroline Anyango, 25, said the ferry started showing signs of mechanical problems before it started its trip to Likoni.

According to another eyewitness, the ferry started drifting at around 4.40pm.

“At around that time we heard screams from the ferry. The vessel was in the middle of the ocean and all we could see was the ferry rotating.

“It drifted and came to a halt after hitting the reef,” said Mr Philip Maingi, a photographer at Mama Ngina Drive.

He said the response to the crisis was so slow from both the ferry personnel and the security who did little in controlling the crowd.

Mr Maingi added that after 30 minutes, a second ferry came closer to MV Kwale where some people managed to move into it.

Speaking at the scene, Mombasa Deputy County Commissioner Salim Mahmoud, told Nation.co.ke that he got information and had to coordinate officers from the Kenya Ferry Services, the Navy and other officials to help secure the vessel.

“We only have two women who have been rushed to hospital and the others have successfully managed to disembark from the vessel,” Mr Mahmoud said.

By 6.10pm most of the passengers had already left the vessel while only about 10 vehicles were left still in the ferry.