Survivors of the Tana River boat tragedy have recounted the moments leading up to the boat capsizing on Sunday, April 28.
According to reports by the Kenya Red Cross Society, 23 people have been rescued and are currently receiving care at Madogo Hospital.
Two more bodies have been retrieved while six have been reported missing at the Kenya Red Cross tracing desk.
“Two bodies retrieved, six reported missing at our tracing desk. Early this morning, we continued with search and rescue/retrieval operations and set up three tracing desks near Total Petrol Station in Madogo, another near Garissa Bridge and Garissa Mortuary,” Kenya Red Cross said.
The boat carrying 41 people capsized at Kona Punda while heading to Mororo Garissa town.
The authority further reported that rescue missions are still underway in Tana River County.
Survivor Narrates Moments Before Tana River Boat Tragedy
Faith Maria while speaking to the press recounted how she narrowly escaped drowning, given the fact that she does not know how to swim.
Tulikuwa watu wengi sana zaidi ya arubaini. Sasa wakati tumefika pale mahali Barabara imekatika nlisikia tu boat imetuangukia hivi ikatufunika.
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“There were many of us, more than forty in the boat. The boat capsized when we reached the place where the road is split,” she said.
Sasa hapo ilikuwa wewe ujiokoe kama una uwezo kuogelea, mimi sijui kuogelea. Sasa Nlijishikilia kwa shati ya Mwanaume mmoja alikuwa ametoka Lamu. Akaogelea akaogelea nkienda nikashika Lorry ilikuwa imekwama hapo katikati ya Barabara.
“At that point, you had to save yourself if you could swim but as for me, I did not know how to swim. So, I grabbed onto the shirt of a man who had come from Lamu. He swam away, while I went and grabbed onto a lorry that was stuck there in the middle of the road.”
Another survivor Mahmud Fanus blamed the boat management for overtaking while it was overloaded.
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Ilizama ju ya overloading. Kulikuwa na boat tatu. Walikuwa wanaovertake. Sasa ilikuwa inakimbizana na ile ingine ikisahau imeoverload ndo ikamwaga watu.
“It capsized due to overloading. There were three boats. They were overtaking each other. It was racing with the other one, forgetting it was overloaded, and that’s when it capsized.
Following the closure of the affected stretch of road between Madogo and Garissa people have resorted to using boats, which charge Ksh.1,500 for short distances, normally Ksh.30 for public service.
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