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The toll of an overcrowded ferry that capsized Thursday reached 224 people and its captain is being arrested, the Tanzanian authorities said Sunday.
"The government will form a special investigative commission of experts who will investigate the source of the accident and legal measures will be taken against all those who have been involved in the tragedy," said Prime Minister Minister Kassim Majaliwa, according to Reuters.
Painted coffins were lined up when families gathered for mass burial on Ukara Island in Lake Victoria. The ferry, destined to dock on the island, flipped about 55 meters away as the people on board prepared to disembark. Officials have so far identified 172 of the 400 people on board.
"Our country has been struck by a great tragedy. We lost brothers, relatives and friends. Our call is for us to be united during this difficult time and understand that our compatriots have been left behind by their beloved parents, brothers, sisters, children and friends in this great tragedy. We must comfort them instead of feeding them bad words. Let the government and the relevant authorities do their job, "said Majaliwa, who ran Sunday's service, CBS News reported.
The captain of the ferry, who was coming from Bugolora, reportedly confided control of the ship to an untrained person, Tanzanian President John Magufuli said. Rescuers saved an engineer on board the ferry on Saturday, two days after shutting himself in the engine room. Rescuers resumed their search after hearing noises from the ship. They found Alphonce Charahani, who would have survived the accident by finding an air pocket.
Authorities will continue to identify the deceased and no longer find survivors, as search and rescue efforts have come to an end, Defense Minister Venance Mabeyo told reporters.
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"This ferry killed our people. If we tell them not to overload the ferry, they do not listen to us, like last Thursday. We urge the government to take care of us. Otherwise, we will have finished like that, "said Adla Bakari, who lost her son and neighbors in the crash.
This is not the first time that this type of accident occurs in Tanzania. About 894 people died in 1996 when MV Bukoba capsized in Lake Victoria. The wreck of the MV Spice Islander killed 200 people in 2011 and at least 145 people were killed by the MV Skagit sinking in 2012.
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