Search on for missing Lamu fisherman
A boat full of passengers passing through the Mkanda Channel in Lamu. One fisherman died, three were rescued and one is still missing after their boat capsized in Lamu on June 1, 2018. PHOTO | KALUME KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The fisherman was among five others who were in the boat during the time of the accident which occurred at around 6.30pm.
One person drowned and his body was recovered on Friday evening while three others were rescued by fellow fishermen who were fishing in the area.
The boat is said to have capsized due to too much weight on one side as witnesses claim the five occupants were leaning on one side while fishing.
Lamu marine police and local divers have mounted a search and rescue mission for a fisherman who went missing at sea at Manda Mweni area on Friday evening after their boat capsized.
The fisherman was among five others who were in the boat during the time of the accident which occurred at around 6.30pm.
One person drowned and his body was recovered on Friday evening while three others were rescued by fellow fishermen who were fishing in the area.
The boat is said to have capsized due to too much weight on one side as witnesses claim the five occupants were leaning on one side while fishing.
Speaking to the Nation on Saturday morning, Lamu West OCPD Juma Londo said the missing fisherman has not been found and that there is high possibility he was pushed into the deep sea.
“We had to postpone the search and rescue mission on Friday night but marine police had already returned to the scene to continue with the search. We suspect the fisherman might have been pushed by the Indian Ocean waters to the deep sea. We are combing the Indian Ocean waters around the scene of the accident in a bid to either recover the missing fisherman or his body,” said Mr Londo.
DEADLY CHANNEL
Incidents of people going missing at sea after a boat accident are not new in Lamu with the worst being on August 13 last year when Lamu Orange Democratic Movement politician Shekue Kahale lost 12 of his family members, including his four children and wife.
They had been reported missing at sea a day before when they failed to arrive to Lamu Island from Kizingitini.
Their boat had unfortunately capsized at Manda Bruno, an area known for its gigantic waves but the politician survived after hours of swimming.
On June 20 last year, 10 people died when a dhow that had 25 passengers capsized because of high tides at the Mkanda Channel in the Indian Ocean while travelling from Lamu to Ndau village in Lamu East.
On October 9 last year, four people who had been reported missing at sea were found alive by a search team mounted by Red Cross and the Kenya Maritime Authority.
They had spent a night on the Indian Ocean after their boat was overpowered by rough tides normally experienced in Manda Bruno and swept away to Dodori area where they were later found.
