30 rescued, several others feared dead as MV Kilombero capsizes .

DAILY NEWS Reporters

 

RESCUERS have managed to save 30 people as several others are feared dead after MV Kilombero ferry capsized on Wednesday night while crossing the Kilombero River in Morogoro Region, the National Assembly heard on Thursday.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled), Ms Jenista Mhagama, told the House that the rescue operations were going on.

“The ferry, with 31 people on board, three vehicles and two autorickshaws, sank on Wednesday night,” the minister said while presenting the government’s statement on the accident to the House.

She added that the Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Professor Makame Mbarawa, had travelled to Kilombero to supervise the rescue operations and repairing damaged infrastructure due to heavy rains in the area.

“As we speak, Kilombero and Ulanga districts have been cut-off as heavy rains have destroyed road network linking the two areas,” Ms Mhagama said. She said the government would make use of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) to repair the infrastructure and restore road transportation.

Ms Mhagama further warned the public on the impending rains and storms, which are likely to destroy the infrastructure and other property. She directed disaster management committees in the local governments to coordinate with the national disaster management in the Prime Minister’s Office in case of any catastrophe in their areas.

Meanwhile, according to the Morogoro Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Leonard Paul, the ferry boat sank at 7:15 pm midway between Ulanga and Ifakara districts.

Passengers panicked after water gushed through the vessel, sending passengers into the river. The accident, said the RPC, left passengers in dangerous currents of the river.

However, police are yet to establish the number of the drowned passengers who were on board according to Mr Paul. In that accident, 30 passengers are said to have rescued themselves from the wreckage of the ferry after wearing Life Jackets.

Among them is Ifakara Branch-CRDB Bank Manager, Mr Joel Mwageni. Eyewitnesses at ferry area said fear engulfed Ifakara town following the heavy downpour that had been pounding the area. Mr Mutua told the ‘Daily News’ over the phone that because of the strong winds that were fuelled by heavy rains, water flooded the engine, causing the accident.

“Strong tides pushed the ferry’s engine to stop abruptly before it ultimately capsized, exposing passengers to great danger,’’ he said. Mr Mutua said most of those feared dead are residents of Ifakara District while others were from Ulanga District who were coming from their farms. He said because the accident occurred in the evening, those who escaped unhurt ran away to unidentified places.

The Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Professor Makame Mbarawa, yesterday arrived at the scene of accident and promised that the government would beef up rescue operations by reinforcing the teams on site. He also consoled the families that lost their loved ones in the accident, saying the government was with them during the sorrowful period.

“The government has been saddened by this incident. I have come to present the condolence message from the government and the only solution to get rid of such incidences is to ensure that the construction of the Kilombero River bridge is completed,’’ he added.

According to the minister, the government had allocated 885m/- to pay a contractor, M/S China Railway 15 Group Corporation, that had been tasked with construction of the 384 metres bridge.

He said the government also wants to ensure that there are two ferries in order to avoid overloading of passengers. The government contracted the Chinese Company for construction of the bridge and according to Prof Mbarawa, 56bn/- will be disbursed by the government of Tanzania and that already the project is ongoing.

Morogoro Regional Commissioner Dr Rajab Rutengwe, who was on his trip to Iringa Region, cut short his trip to lead the operation and ensuring resumption of transport between Kilombero and Ulanga districts.

This is not the first ferry tragedy in Kilombero River. In 2002, another ferry, MV Kiu, capsized killing several other passengers and destruction of properties.

Following the tragedy, the government purchased MV Kilombero1 that was launched on October 12, 2002 that had a carrying capacity of 50 tonnes of passengers and their luggage.

After the increase of economic activities of people in the two districts, in September 2007, the government bought another ferry, MV Kilombero 11, that capsized on Wednesday.

The ferry had a carrying capacity of 50 tonnes. As of yesterday, efforts to retrieve the wreckage of the ferry were continuing; aimed at retrieving the bodies that are still trapped inside.

The exercise is being carried out in collaboration with M/S China Railway 15 Group Corporation Company that was contracted to put up the bridge on Kilombero River.

In Tabora, the ongoing rains that are currently hitting most parts of the country have prompted officials to temporary shut down the road from Mpanda to Koga and Tabora due to flooding at River Koga.

According to a press statement issued yesterday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication, Engineer Joseph Nyamhanga, the heavy rains have caused flooding on River Koga, which eventually washed away a bridge situated in the area.

“Destruction of the bridge, which is located at the border of Katavi and Tabora, has cut down road communication in the regions,” said Eng Nyamhanga.

He requested the residents of the area to temporarily carry out trips using the road to prevent any kind of accidents from occurring. “People shall only go on with their activities once the flooding water from the river has decreased,” he stressed.

The order has been carried out in accordance with Section 41 (1) of the Roads Act of 2007 and Section 8 (1) Road Management Act of 2009. Eng Nyamhanga noted that the Ministry apologizes for any kind of inconvenience which is bound to happen.

Rains and strong winds, accompanied with lightning and thunderstorms that hit most parts of Dar es Salaam Region yesterday destroyed several Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) infrastructures, causing power blackouts for several hours in some parts of Dar es Salaam Region.

TANESCO’s Dar es Salaam Senior Zonal Manager Mr Mahende Mugaya said yesterday that the rains caused the destruction of electricity infrastructures including six transformers and nine electric poles.

“After receiving information of power blackouts, the state owned power supply company’s technicians intervened early in the morning by going into different parts where the damages occurred and worked on the faults,” he said.

He said TANESCO is yet to make evaluations of the damages caused by the rains that lasted for more than five hours. However, the minimum price for a small transformer is 5m/- and the biggest costs 32m/-.

Areas that were hit most by the rains included Mbezi Beach, Mikocheni, Tandika, Chang’ombe, Tegeta, Segerea, Kinyerezi, Kimara, Mbagala and few parts of Coast Region.

He, however, said that by yesterday evening, electricity was restored in all places that experienced power interruptions by connecting them temporarily into other power lines.

Mr Mugaya said after temporarily connecting some of the affected areas into other power lines, the technicians will start replacing the transformers and electric poles to effect reconnections. He added that the power utility is continuing to improve electricity infrastructures to ensure that city residents get reliable power supply all the year round.