Hundreds of ferry passengers were
stranded for hours as a ferry stalled in the Likoni channel.
It is believed that the MV Kwale
which was headed to the Likoni mainland developed a mechanical problem
midstream when it started drifting towards Florida area
The ferry, according to
eyewitnesses, had stalled before it was 'pushed’ by raging waves off it course
towards the deep sea.
Ms Ali said they tried to swim
when the vessel was pushed by sea waves to the shallow waters at Mama Ngina
Drive.
No other ferry could reach the
stalled MV Kwale because of the shallow depth of the sea at the point it was
grounded.
By 6.10pm most of the passengers
had already left the vessel while only about 10 vehicles were left still in the
ferry.
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, toldNation.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.
