Three drown after racing boat capsizes in Mombasa during oceanic festival.
The incident saw the MV Dragon capsizing during the competition, metres to the finishing line, leading to the death of three participants. Twenty-two participants were aboard the boat belonging to the Kijiweni Youth Group, and 19 were rescued following the accident.
Two bodies have so far been recovered following a tragic boat racing accident that occurred during the East African Oceanic Festival at Tudor Water Sports in Mombasa on Friday, October 10.
The incident saw the MV Dragon capsizing during the competition, metres to the finishing line, leading to the death of three participants.
Twenty-two participants were aboard the boat belonging to the Kijiweni Youth Group, and 19 were rescued following the accident.
Rescue teams had on Saturday successfully retrieved two bodies, while search efforts for the third victim are ongoing.
Some of the survivors were reported to be in critical condition were admitted to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment.
A multi-agency rescue and recovery operation team, comprising the Mombasa County Fire and Rescue Services, the Kenya Coast Guard Service, the Kenya Navy, and volunteer divers, are involved in the rescue mission to locate the missing individuals.
"All resources are being mobilized to ensure the safe retrieval of the missing person," said Mombasa County Police Commander Peter Kimani, who said comprehensive efforts are underway to recover the remaining body.
He assured the public that, in light of the upcoming festive season, stringent safety measures have been in place to prevent such tragic incidents.
Some of the participants claimed they were not provided with life jackets during the race, despite using them during training sessions.
The Mombasa county chief fire officer and disaster coordinator Ibrahim Basafar, lamented the conduct of bystanders at the scene who pelted stones at the rescue teams, smashing the ambulance windows even as first responders were administering aid to survivors. “By the time we were doing first aid and trauma on the rescued victims, the youth who were participating in the event started throwing stones at us,” he said.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir, who visited the scene of the incident, urged members of the public to remain calm and allow the professionals on site to continue with the rescue operation.
The boat race organized by the East African Oceanic Festival drew nine teams comprising local youth groups, security agencies, and maritime organizations.
According to the organisers, the festival has been suspended to focus on the ongoing search and rescue efforts.
The tragic incident has cast a grim shadow over the event, prompting calls for enhanced safety protocols in future events.