9 reported dead as Boat capsizes in Lamu

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Rescuers search for bodies after boat capsized in Lamu in June,2017.A search for fishermen who went missing after their boat capsized last week has been called off PHOTO: FILE.

Lamu, KENYA: Nine people have been confirmed dead after a passenger boat capsized on the Indian Ocean in Lamu on Tuesday morning.

More than ten others are feared dead following the accident which happened at around 10.30am Tuesday morning.

Among the dead are four children and four adults.

The boat which was travelling from Lamu Island heading to Ndau village in Lamu East, capsized at the Mkanda channel owing to the rough tides that were being experienced at sea.

The boat is said to have had over 30 passengers at the time of the accident.

So far nine bodies have been recovered by divers and Kenya Navy officers with the body count expected to increase as recovery efforts continue.

Lamu East county administrator Shee Kupi who is overseeing the recovery team said the body count was currently at nine but said the number could increase.

“The accident was due to high tides at sea currently.We currently have the body count at nine and its expected to grow.The search is ongoing.We have 12 survivors so far who were saved by divers and the navy.Those dead include children of between the ages of 10 and 12 and four adults,”said Kupi.

Lamu governor Issa Timamy who arrived at the scene shortly after, also confirmed the body count but blamed the national disaster team and the navy for their delayed response when the accident happened.

Timamy said timely response would have saved many lives.

“My condolences to the families of those who have died,We stand with them.So far we have recovered nine but the search operation is still on.Its very unfortunate that the national disaster team and the navy took too long to respond.Maybe no one would have died it the response had been timely,”said Timamy.

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