Seven individuals were taken to the hospital with minor injuries after their boat capsized at the Mtangawadha-Lamu Island canal.
The six men and one lady were aboard the MV Al-Aun, going from Mtangawadha to Lamu Island, when the disaster occurred along the infamous Manda Bruno waterway.
Kauthar Alwyi, coordinator of the Lamu County Kenya Red Cross Society, confirmed the incident, noting that no fatalities were reported.
Mr. Alwyi also noted that the society’s rescue team arrived at the scene in time and rescued all the seven passengers.
“The incident occurred at around mid-day. The boat they were traveling in was overpowered by strong tides. Its propeller was dislodged, which forced the boat to overturn before capsizing, however one of the victims is nursing injuries at Kingfahad County hospital,” said Kauthar.
The owner of the boat, Mr. Faraj Skanda, told Wananchi Reporting that the boat had not developed any mechanical challenges before the incident.
“Breakage of a boat outboard engine handle is normally as a result of high struggle with the tides which forces bolts to loosen,” noted Skanda who was not on the boat at the time of the accident.
A lot of accidents have occurred at the Manda Bruno Channel, something that has raised its status into a black spot.
