Ferry disaster toll hits 207

The death toll from a crowded ferry capsizing in Lake Victoria rose sharply to 207 yesterday, a Tanzanian minister said, as rescue workers found a lucky survivor. 

Public radio quoted the transport minister as updating the number of dead from 170 earlier in the day. Joseph Mkundi, a lawmaker for the Ukerewe district, said there were 41 known survivors among the passengers of the MV Nyerere -- a ferry built to carry 100 people, according to state media.

It capsized on Thursday close to the pier on Ukara Island. Although hopes were fading of finding any more survivors by day three of the search effort, workers rescued an engineer who had managed to locate a pocket of air in the vessel. According to Mkundi, the engineer had shut himself into a “special room”.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Friday ordered the arrest of ferry management. Witnesses said the ferry sank when passengers rushed to one side to disembark as it approached the dock. Others blamed the captain, saying he had made a brusque manoeuvre. In a speech broadcast on TBC 1 public television, Magufuli said: “it appears clear that the ferry was overloaded.” He added: “negligence has cost us so many lives... children, mothers, students, old people.

“I ordered the arrest of all those involved in the management of the ferry. The arrests have already begun,” he added.