SURVIVORS of the MV Sea Falcon boat, which sank midweek with over 30 passengers on board travelling from Kirumba in Mwanza Region to Goziba Island in Kagera Region, yesterday recounted their harrowing experience.

The incident occurred Wednesday evening on Lake Victoria, about two kilometres from the shore at the Bwiru landing site in Ilemela District, where the boat began taking on water around 6pm and they were rescued sometime after ten in the night.

Convalescing at the Sekou Toure regional referral hospital where they are receiving treatment, Noris Mwene, a trader from Mbagala in the city of Dar es Salaam, shared his recollections.

 “After traveling about a kilometre, the captain and his assistant informed us they needed to return to shore for something they had forgotten. However, after discussion, they decided to continue the journey, even though the boat was still filling with water.”

Within a short time water filling in the boat began to sink, whereupon the crew started dumping the fuel from the barrels to help them float, owing to the lack of assistance, he said.

This situation persisted until around 10pm, when some fishermen finally arrived, where they only took their cargo, including fuel barrels and money, leaving the passengers stranded.

“The barrels kept hitting us, and we inadvertently ingested the petrol inside them,” he said, while Lucia Kubagwa, a trader from Nyarugusu in Geita Region, said she and others had arrived at Kirumba dock only to find that the passenger boat they wanted to board had already left.

They were told that MV Sea Falcon was heading to the same destination, so more than 40 passengers boarded, and when the incident was noticed many of them screamed for help, but no one came.

“We started dumping the petrol and floating on the barrels while failing to breathe or swallow the petrol all around. Even now, I’m in pain from the petrol I ingested,” she stated.

Joseph Masole, a witness and operator of the Bwiru landing site, recalled the response once one of the passengers reached land, affirming that there were about 60 people in need of help.

'I sent small boats to rescue them and contacted security agencies for assistance,” he elaborated, while Dr Bahati Msaki, medical officer in-charge at the Sekou Toure Hospital, confirmed the body of a six-year-old boy, Kharidi Rajabu, a primary school pupil from Goziba in Muleba District, Kagera Region.

In all, 28 survivors were treated, with 22 men and eight women where by mid-afternoon yesterday, 14 had been discharged and others remained under care.

Wilbrod Mutafungwa, the regional police commander confirmed the arrest of three individuals, including boat owner Amon Lutabanzibwa, who is being charged with carrying passengers without a permit from the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC).

Robert Kabota, the captain and supervisor Salum Shaban were also arrested for suspected violation of maritime transport regulations, with the RPC affirming that of the 32 passengers the police are aware of, 30 survived.

“Unfortunately, in addition to the deceased boy, another unidentified person remains missing.”

Regional Commissioner Said Mtanda said the government will cover the medical expenses of admitted survivors, urging that the families of those still missing remain patient as search efforts are pursued.