Hundreds of people are feared dead after a passenger ferry in Tanzania’s Lake Victoria capsized on Thursday afternoon.
Tanzania’s Electrical, Mechanical and Services Agency (TEMESA), which operates ferry services, said the boat, known as MV Nyerere, sank in Ukurewe district Mwanza region.
Developing:
MV Nyerere in Ukerewe,Tanzania plying between Bugolora and Ukara islands in Lake Victoria has SUNK having more that 500 passengers on board; Rescue mission underway. Hundreds feared dead. #Pray4Tanzania pic.twitter.com/3Wk9rfmbek
— Kennedy Wandera (@VOA_Wandera) September 20, 2018
The Agency also said that rescue operations are underway
TEMESA Spokeswoman Theresia Mwami said so far they had not established the exact number of passengers who were on board and whether anyone had died. The ferry capsized a few meters before docking, Mwami said.
Local media, however, reported that six people had died.
Mwami said the ferry did not have any mechanical problems because TEMESA had carried out heavy maintenance on it in recent months including overhauling two engines.