A dhow sank on Monday just a few metres from Mokowe Jetty in Lamu County, carrying goods valued at an estimated Sh2 million. The dhow, christened 24 Runners, was en route to Kismayu, Somalia. According to the captain, Abdulrazak Ahmed, the vessel sank due to overloading.
Marine police and members of the public managed to rescue the crew and salvage some of the goods. “I had just left Mokowe jetty when the dhow began to sink. The loaders tried to offload some of the cargo to lighten the boat, but it was too late. Fortunately, no one was injured,” Ahmed said.
In a similar incident in 2019, two people went missing after a cargo dhow capsized near Mlango wa Pate, a few kilometres from the Manda Bruno Channel in Lamu East. Two others were rescued in the incident. The dhow, christened Foza, was carrying building materials from Mokowe Jetty to Pate Island when it capsized at around 10am.
The Lamu County Disaster Response Team (DRT) reported a decrease in fatalities in 2024, with only six deaths recorded across the archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Statistics from the DRT show that at least 20 people were rescued in Lamu during the same period. These figures reflect significant improvements in search and rescue operations compared to previous years, when fatalities were higher.
Shee Kupi, leader of the Lamu County Disaster Response Team and director of disaster management for the region, emphasised the importance of vessel safety. “I urge vessel owners and users to ensure that their vessels meet the required safety standards, are free of cracks, and are properly maintained to prevent accidents in the Indian Ocean,” Kupi stated.
By Jane Mugambi
