11 dead in Kenya ferry accident

Eleven people died after a lorry lost control and rammed a ferry at the Likoni Channel in Mombasa.

At least 20 others were injured and many are feared trapped in the early morning incident.

According to eyewitnesses, the loaded trailer was descending the ramp when its brakes failed, catching passengers and cyclists unawares.

Daniel Munyao, who was aboard mv Likoni, said the disaster could have been catastrophic were it not for cries of help.

“I was among the first to board the ferry (mv Likoni) when I heard a bang that shook the vessel before cries of “help!” rent the air,” he said.

Three women were trapped underneath the trailer while others were lying on the ferry and ramp seriously injured.

The incident caused massive congestion of human and traffic jam on both sides of the channel during the peak hour as people jammed the mainland ramp to see whether some of the victims were relatives.

When the Nation arrived at the scene, the injured were being ferried by good Samaritans to a nearby health centre for first aid before being taken to different hospitals.

Police led by the Likoni deputy OCPD Moss Ndiwa had a hectic time controlling the milling crowd that had blocked the mainland ramp making it impossible to move the injured.

A Kenya Ferry Service staff boat ferried some of the victims to the island ramp where they were rushed to Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH), MEWA, Pandya and Mombasa hospitals.

KFS managing director Musa Hassan Musa said the trailer’s brakes had failed causing it to lose control before ramming the anchored ferry.

“It’s unfortunate people going for their errands have lost their lives in this incident and we call upon our commuters to always be vigilant when using the channel,” he said.