By Our Reporter
A festive celebration of East Africa’s maritime heritage turned tragic on Friday evening when a dragon boat carrying 22 participants capsized near the finish line during the East Africa Ocean Festival (TEAOF) at Tudor Water Sports Club.
According to emergency officials, three people are feared dead, while nineteen survivors were pulled from the water — one of them in critical condition. The ill-fated vessel, identified as MV Dragon, overturned at approximately 5:30 p.m., just moments before completing the race that had drawn hundreds of cheering spectators.
The Kenya Red Cross Society confirmed that search and rescue operations were immediately launched by a multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Coast Guard Service, the Kenya Navy, and volunteer divers. “So far, 19 people have been rescued, while three remain missing,” the organization said in a statement, adding that efforts to locate the missing participants were ongoing.
Witnesses described scenes of confusion and panic as rescuers battled both strong tides and a frenzied crowd. Mombasa County Chief Fire Officer Ibrahim Basafar said the operation was hindered when some spectators began pelting rescuers with stones. “An ICU ambulance that had been deployed to provide oxygen to a critical survivor was damaged, and we had to summon a replacement,” Basafar disclosed.
Adding to the tragedy, survivors have come forward alleging serious safety lapses. Participant Ishmael Onyango recounted that most competitors were not wearing life jackets at the time of the accident — a stark departure from earlier training sessions.
“We were almost at the finish line when the boat flipped. None of us had life jackets on. During training, everyone used them, but on race day, only one team had theirs,” he said.
Another participant, Victor Odongo from Mombasa’s Bangladesh area, condemned the event’s organizers for negligence. “We were invited to represent our community, not to risk our lives. How could such a competition proceed without enforcing safety protocols?” he questioned.
Mombasa County Executive for Lands and Urban Planning Hussein Mohammed stated that a coordinated search effort was ongoing, with divers combing the Indian Ocean waters near Tudor Creek for the missing racers. “We are working with all relevant agencies to ensure every participant is accounted for,” he said.
The East Africa Ocean Festival, now in its second edition, was launched to promote water sports, blue economy awareness, and coastal tourism. The event, which began on October 9 with an opening gala at Fort Jesus, was expected to run until Sunday.
However, following the tragedy, organizers are facing mounting pressure to explain the apparent lack of safety oversight at what was meant to be a flagship maritime celebration.
Regional Context
The incident adds to a growing list of boat-related disasters in East and Central Africa. In recent weeks, two separate boat accidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo claimed at least 193 lives, largely due to overloading and night-time navigation errors.
As rescue operations continue in Mombasa, families of the missing have gathered along the shoreline, hoping for news — a sobering reminder of the risks that accompany poorly regulated water events in the region.
Authorities are expected to issue a full report after recovery efforts conclude.
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