Two perish in Lake Victoria accident

Homa Bay,

Saturday September 9, 2023

KNA by Davis Langat

 A somber mood engulfed Mbita in Suba North Friday, after two fishermen drowned in an accident that involved a ship and boat in Lake Victoria.

The fishermen from Remba island encountered the tragedy while on a fishing expedition yesterday.

Reports indicated that the fishermen drowned when their boat was hit by a ship that was travelling from Kisumu to Uganda.

Remba Beach Management Unit Chairman Semekia Marmra said the boat broke into two parts before sinking.

He said the two fishermen were unable to swim. 

Mamra said the fishermen had earlier left the island to go fishing.

The Chairman said the boat was hit while the fishermen were busy pulling their nets back into the boat. "The tragedy struck when they had caught the fish and were intending to return to the island.

"The ship captain and boat coxswain could not notice each other from a distance due to darkness. We suspect this is one of the reasons why the accident occurred,” Mamra said.

It was also reported that the ship did not have lights which could have alerted the fishermen to vacate its path.

“The ship did not stop after the incident. Instead, it sailed to its destination in Uganda,” Mamra added. 

Meanwhile, one fisherman survived the tragedy by clinging to a part of the boat that did not sink. He was saved by his colleagues some minutes later.

Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan said they had launched investigations into the incident.

"We are aware of the incident and we are pursuing it. The necessary action will be taken upon completion of the investigations," Lilan said.

The search for the bodies of the two was ongoing for the better part of Friday.

Courtesy; KNA