Many of you will have seen on the news that there was a tragic accident on Lake Victoria yesterday afternoon. Many of you have messaged us, knowing of our work on Ukerewe Island. Thank you for your prayers. We want you all to know that none of our team or anyone we know was on that ferry. But so many people were and so many are grieving today.
A ferry, heavily overloaded with people who had been to Ukerewe Island for market day, was arriving at Ukara Island yesterday afternoon. As the boat approached the dock, all the passengers rushed to one side to be first to disembark. We see this happen every time we travel on these ferries. But this time, on a busy market day, with too many people and many heavy sacks of cement, bananas and maize on board, it tipped and capsized. Not more than 50m from the shore, where people were gathering and watching in horror, many people lost their lives.
This small ferry is designed to carry 100 passengers. Reports are saying that as many as 300-400 could have been squeezed on that boat. Most would not have been able to swim. And as the ferry overturned, people were trapped in the water underneath. As I write, only 40 people have been reported rescued and many of them are in bad condition. 136 bodies have been recovered and the death toll keeps rising.
Our colleague, Joel, has been talking today with the leading TAG pastor of that area, someone we work with for the Entrepreneurship project. Nobody from our participating groups or churches was on board yesterday, but many of their family members, friends and neighbours are among those who have horrifically died. Many are unaccounted for and there is no way to know how many were on board, as the man dispensing tickets drowned too. Many people are grieving today.
Joel and Elisha returned from Ukerewe Island last week and are working with the churches there to establish entrepreneurship projects in different island communities. Actually one of the projects proposed by a group was to start a ferry service. The project was too big for now, but maybe this would be future vision to consider. A ferry built and maintained well. Managed with integrity for the safety and benefit of the whole community.
Unfortunately accidents on Lake Victoria are not uncommon. Boats are poorly maintained and often heavily overloaded. We pray this will be a wake-up call to action for safety improvements. And we continue to pray for safety, particularly for our team as we travel between the islands and Mwanza on these ferries. And we pray for the churches on the islands, that with the love of God, they could comfort and help those grieving.
A ferry, heavily overloaded with people who had been to Ukerewe Island for market day, was arriving at Ukara Island yesterday afternoon. As the boat approached the dock, all the passengers rushed to one side to be first to disembark. We see this happen every time we travel on these ferries. But this time, on a busy market day, with too many people and many heavy sacks of cement, bananas and maize on board, it tipped and capsized. Not more than 50m from the shore, where people were gathering and watching in horror, many people lost their lives.
This small ferry is designed to carry 100 passengers. Reports are saying that as many as 300-400 could have been squeezed on that boat. Most would not have been able to swim. And as the ferry overturned, people were trapped in the water underneath. As I write, only 40 people have been reported rescued and many of them are in bad condition. 136 bodies have been recovered and the death toll keeps rising.
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| MV Nyerere |
Our colleague, Joel, has been talking today with the leading TAG pastor of that area, someone we work with for the Entrepreneurship project. Nobody from our participating groups or churches was on board yesterday, but many of their family members, friends and neighbours are among those who have horrifically died. Many are unaccounted for and there is no way to know how many were on board, as the man dispensing tickets drowned too. Many people are grieving today.
Joel and Elisha returned from Ukerewe Island last week and are working with the churches there to establish entrepreneurship projects in different island communities. Actually one of the projects proposed by a group was to start a ferry service. The project was too big for now, but maybe this would be future vision to consider. A ferry built and maintained well. Managed with integrity for the safety and benefit of the whole community.
Unfortunately accidents on Lake Victoria are not uncommon. Boats are poorly maintained and often heavily overloaded. We pray this will be a wake-up call to action for safety improvements. And we continue to pray for safety, particularly for our team as we travel between the islands and Mwanza on these ferries. And we pray for the churches on the islands, that with the love of God, they could comfort and help those grieving.
So so sad. Praying for all those affected
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