More than 19 Kenyans were reported to have sustained serious injuries following a stampede at the Likoni ferry crossing channel after the new MV Safari stalled midstream for more than 30 minutes.
Kenyan Bulletin has been informed that Mv Safari stalled after it collided with another ferry on the sides as it was offloading passengers. The impact punctured a hole on the new Ferry.
Mombasa Red Cross Chairman Mahmoud Noor said about 20 people were injured in the process.
“Those injured were taken to Coast General Hospital where they are recuperating. We are still assessing the situation and in an hour’s time we shall be able to monitor the situation,” said the chair.
Here are the courtesy pictures of the aftermath.
Likoni Ferry is a deathtrap is at all the tunnel safety will be overlooked for greedy and baseless profits. What happened to that floating Bridge that was to be constructed by the CRCC?
There was another one for the Japanese?
Whatever happened to that much touted Likoni bridge that was to be built by the Japanese?
These ferry incidences are becoming eerily common.
— Ahmed Mohamed ((ASMALi)) (@Asmali77) July 21, 2020
In October 2015,11 people were wounded in a stampede following congestion after three vessels reportedly stalled.
In March this year, several commuters were injured in almost similar circumstances after irate commuters grew impatient and defied social distancing orders.
Regarding Tuesday’s incident, it remains unclear what caused the stalling of the new ferry considering the vessel is only three months old plying the waters.
MV Safari arrived in the country in April, from Turkey where it was assembled by builder Ozata Shipyard Company. Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) management bragged how MV Safari would bolster operations at the channel.
Three months later, the channel is still soaked and currently struggling with traffic flow orchestrated by the outbreak of the coronavirus disease.
Due to COVID-19, the carriage capacity of existing ferries was reduced after the management enforced social distancing procedures. Currently, ferries operational are MV Kilindini, MV Jambo, MV Kwale, and MV Likoni. MV Harambee and MV Nyayo are undergoing repairs at the dry dockyard.
