President of Tanzania John Magufuli has ordered the arrest of the management of the ferry that capsized in Lake Victoria on Thursday.
His order of arrest on Friday comes a day after the disaster claimed over 130 lives. There are fears the death toll could rise.
The MV Nyerere, according to local media was over loaded with over 400 people instead of the normal capacity of 200.
The ferry capsized near the shore between the islands of Ukora and Bugolora. AFP reports that the ferry sank when passengers rushed to one side to disembark while approaching the dock.
President Magufuli blamed the disaster on “negligence”. He called for the arrest of “all those involved in the management of the ferry” in a speech broadcast on state television.
“It appears clear that the ferry was overloaded,” Magufuli said revealing that “the arrests have already begun”.
On Friday officials said the death so far has reached 136 as rescue efforts still continue to recover bodies.
Lake Victoria, which is Africa’s largest lake has in the past recorded accidents. In 1996 over 800 people died in a similar disaster.
Source: Africafeeds.com
