79 confirmed dead in Lake Victoria disaster
A ferry capsized in Lake Victoria, Tanzania, on Thursday, leading to the death of 79 people.
The number of people who were found alive after the Thursday’s disaster are 37, and there hasn’t been report on any more survivors since rescue operations resumed Friday morning.
A regional governor, John Mongella, confirmed on state TV that “at the moment the death toll is 79”.
Reports say the MV Nyerere was carrying about 200 passengers or double the ferry’s capacity, when it capsized close to the pier at Ukara Island on Thursday afternoon.
It was gathered that the ageing ferry was also carrying some cargo, which included sacks of maize, bananas and cement, when it overturned and sank to around 50 metres (55 yards) from the Ukara dock.
The real cause of the accident was not known, but it seems that overloading might have played a role.
