This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
Likoni Ferry Operations Halted After Bodies of Drowned Victims Found ¶
On October 4, ferry operations at Likoni in Mombasa were suspended after a large crowd of residents gathered at the scene where bodies of drowned victims were found.
The residents had gathered after passengers who were trying to cross were turned away due to an operation to recover bodies of those who had drowned in the sea.
As the crowd grew, some people were forced to flee for their lives as the situation became increasingly chaotic.
Some were forced to wade through the water, while others were forced to climb onto the ferry, which was already overcrowded.
According to Cyrus Oguna, a government spokesperson, a Swedish diver, Volker Bassen, had joined the search and recovery operation.
"We already have divers in the sea who are searching for bodies in areas where we suspect they may be," Oguna said.
"We will work with this individual (Volker Bassen) and welcome him. He will work with the Navy and use specialized equipment to search for the bodies," Oguna added.
On October 29, five days after the incident, the bodies of Mariam Kigenda and her daughter Amanda Mutheu were found floating in the sea.
