Mombasa Island in Kenya. Tudor Creek is in the upper right of the photograph. Wikimedia Commons/Leo Hempstone
Accidents

Two dead after tour boat capsizes near Mombasa, Kenya

Gareth Havelock

Two people were killed after a boat carrying tourists capsized near the city of Mombasa in southeastern Kenya on Saturday, September 12.

The incident occurred just as the unnamed boat encountered strong waves while transiting Tudor Creek, one of the two waterways that separate Mombasa Island from the Kenyan mainland, on Saturday evening (local time).

Five people who were on the boat were rescued shortly after the capsizing while the remaining two occupants were initially reported missing. These last two individuals were already deceased by the time they were found on a nearby beach the following morning.

Mombasa County Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir has since called on the Kenya Maritime Authority to conduct more rigorous seaworthiness inspections of all vessels operating along the coast.

Mr Nassir also warned boat operators to be more mindful of weather conditions in the area and to ensure that lifejackets are provided to passengers at all times.

Baird Maritime tracks global passenger vessel accidents in its comprehensive database, which can be accessed here.