[ 2011-09-10 ]

At least 43 dead in Zanzibar ferry disaster
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania (AFP) - At least 43 people died
when a ferry capsized off Zanzibar, but 259 have
people have so far been rescued, a minister in the
semi-autonomous archipelago said Saturday.

"So far we have recovered 43 people who died, but
we have rescued 259 survivors," said Mohammed
Aboud, Zanzibar's state minister for emergencies,
adding that 40 of those rescued were seriously
injured.

"We have asked for emergency assistance from Dar
es Salaam, including divers, to help in the rescue
efforts," Aboud told AFP.

The MV Spice Islander which was travelling between
Zanzibar's main island Unguja and Pemba, two of
the three islands that make up Zanzibar, had left
Unguja around 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) and capsized four
hours later.

The exact number of passengers on this type of
ferry is often difficult to establish as no
reliable passenger lists are kept.

No foreigners have so far been reported amongst
either the dead or rescued, according to an AFP
reporter at the scene.

Source - AFP

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