Boat Capsizes in Watamu, Killing 2 Tanzanian Brothers on Board

Boat Capsizes in Watamu, Killing Brothers on Board

Mumbi Mutuko

October 10, 2019 2:02 PM

Brothers drown in Watamu Beach

Boat Capsizes in Watamu, Killing Brothers on Board

A boat with fishermen capsized at the Indian Ocean near Watamu, Kilifi County.

Two brothers drowned after their boat overturned while two other fishermen were rescued following the tragedy.

Watamu Beach Management Unit (BMU) Chairman Osman Mwambire said that the tragedy occurred as they ventured into the sea to cast their fishing nets.

File image of a boat that capsized Pulse Live Kenya

Mwambire said the two brothers, Nasoro Ahmed Said and Said Hamad Said, died after strong waves hit their boat, casting them into the sea.

Body not recovered

“The four were among eight Tanzanian fishermen who came here on September 9, 2019, but unfortunately the two have drowned," Mwambire stated.

"Their boat was hit by heavy waves as they ventured into the sea to cast their nets,” he added.

Reports by K24 intimated that the body of Nasoro Ahmed Said had not been recovered but a search party has been dispatched to look for his body.

Lack of rescue equipment

The two survivors said their boat was hit by strong waves about 500 meters from the shore but their colleagues were overpowered by the waves and drowned.

File image of a boat that capsized Pulse Live Kenya

“We were hit by four simultaneous waves that threw us out of the boat. We raised an alarm and started swimming to safety, but our two colleagues were not so lucky," one of the fishermen stated.

Lack of rescue equipment faulted for the slow response to the distress call, noting that the duo could have been saved as the tragedy struck them only about 500 meters from the shore.