12.09.2011

"Zanzibar is grieving"

The Eastern and Coastal Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania asks for prayers for the victims of the ferry desaster north of Zanzibar Island. More than 200 people have died when on Staturday the ferry M.V. Spice Islander, travelling between Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Pemba and Tanga, capsized in deep waters in the Pemba Channel, north of Zanzibar island. The true numbers of those injured or dead in the tragedy has yet to be established, but it is now acknowledged that there were many more passengers than the 610 listed on the ship manifest. As of Saturday night, 200 are dead, 500 have been rescued and many are still missing. The full extent of the tragedy will not be known for several more days. The Tanzanian region of Zanzibar has begun three days of mourning for the victims of a ferry sinking that killed nearly 200 people. Survivors said it was dangerously overloaded with passengers and cargo and was listing when it left port. The government of the semi-autonomous region has ordered an investigation into what caused the disaster. It is thought the boat capsized after losing engine power in the swift currents between the two Indian Ocean islands. The accident happened early on Saturday and by nightfall about 600 survivors had been rescued. Rescue workers said the death toll could rise because more bodies were trapped in the capsized vessel, the MV Spice Islander. The District Pastor of Zanzibar, Rev. Shukuru Maloda writes: “Zanzibar is not fine, Zanzibar is grieving. Thank you for your prayers after you heard what happened in Zanzibar. Early in the morning today a cargo ship sank.  It was on the way to the twin island called Pemba, as you know Zanzibar is composed by two Islands, Unguja and Pemba. The ship had goods and more than 600 people on board. Up to the moment more than 200 dead bodies have been collected and four hundred people rescued. It is a tragedy. Just imagine an island (Pemba) of not more than 300,000 people to lost 200 people.  For the moment everything has ceased, people are searching for their beloved one. Children have lost their parents and parents have lost their young ones. Dear brethren in Jesus Christ, a word of prayer for the moment will be of great help. Please take time to say something for Zanzibar.” Christians have also started to assist the survivors.More than 90 per cent of the population of Zanzibar is Muslim, and Christians make up a very small minority.