Capsized ferry
September 10, 2011
A ferry carrying more than 500 passengers from Zanzibar to Pemba Island off the east African country of Tanzania has capsized, and at least 190 people have been killed, said Mohammed Aboud, Zanzbar's state minister for emergencies, making the second dramatic death-toll update of the day.
Pemba is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Zanzibar. Passengers who regularly take ferries between the two islands said the vessels are in a poor condition, often overcrowded and heavily loaded with cargo.
"They normally pack us in like sardines in a can. And for that I really fear this could be a very big disaster," local resident Mwnakhamis Juma told the Reuters news agency.
Police said rescue workers with the aid of some fishing boats in the area were helping to rescue more passengers and recover bodies to bring them to Zanzibar's main town for post-mortems and identification.
The cause of the accident, which an unnamed government official already called the worst disaster in Zanzibar's history, remains unknown.
Author: Gabriel Borrud (dpa, Reuters)
Editor: Sean Sinico