Joel Hendon

Zanzibar Archipelago Ferry Capsized And Sank Off Tanzania Over 600 Aboard


Posted: Wednesday, September 14, 2011

by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html

An MV Spice Islander Ferry was en route from Zanzibar’s main island of Ungunja to Pemba Island which is a popular tourist entertainment spot about 1:00 A.M. two days ago, when the boat capsized and sank. Officials report that the cause was bad weather and violations of safety rules.

Officials report that the boat was estimated to have at least 620 on board, which is over the capacity of the vessel. It was also reported to be carrying a heavy load of rice and other goods.

But by Saturday evening Zanzibar police said 192 bodies had been recovered, as well as 606 survivors, plucked from the sea after clinging for hours to strewn cargo, some floating on mattresses and hanging onto a fridge.

Of those rescued, there are 44 who have been seriously wounded and still other who suffered lesser injuries. One spokesman said the death toll may still increase.

Many children were on board. One seven year old girl was crying for her mother, saying she lost her when they were in the water.

Zanzibar Is semi-autonomous group of Islands some 35 miles off the shore of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. It’s main Industries are tourism, rice and taffia. Ferries are the primary transportation between the islands and also between the Islands and the homeland, Tanzania.

The archipelago of islands, along with Tanzania’s Mafia Island are famous for their production of cloves, nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon. Due to this production, the group of islands are often called the “Spice Islands” as you notice the name of the ferry company who owned this boat is MV Spice Islander Ferry. 
Author Biography: Joel Hendon was born near Gadsden Alabama. He attended public schools in Cherokee County, Alabama and after serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attended Jacksonville State University, majoring in Business Administration. He became a Christian in 1948, and although he followed secular work as a career and retired from Allied Signal Aerospace, he is an avid student of the Holy Bible and related works as well as biblical history. He has an extensive website of conservative religious and political articles.http://hebronics.org/index.html

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