This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
Likoni Ferry Tragedy: Government Declares Channel a Military Zone Amid Search Efforts ¶
As the search for the bodies of Mariam Kighenda, 35, and her four-year-old daughter Amanda Mutheu continues, the government has declared the Likoni Ferry channel a military zone.
South African deep sea divers from a private firm have joined the operation, which began on Sunday, September 29, after the car they were in slid from the MV Harambee ferry and sank into the ocean.
Government spokesman Cyrus Oguna noted that the recovery operations will likely take longer due to the difficulties experienced by divers underwater, citing the limited time divers can stay submerged - not more than six minutes.
According to Oguna, the divers have identified four locations to look for the bodies and the car, but the positions are in a difficult terrain, requiring a cautious approach to avoid endangering the safety of the divers.
The two victims were inside a Toyota Isis vehicle before it reversed accidentally, slid off the ferry, and sank into the ocean.
A file photo of government spokesman Cyrus Oguna. Photo: Business Daily
