Ferry: Official death toll at 1 200
2002-11-06 12:37
Dakar - An official inquiry into the Senegalese ferry disaster that claimed 1 200 lives found that the government failed to stop the ship from sailing despite being fully aware of its safety problems.
"The ministry in charge of the merchant navy was always ringing
the alarm bell about overcrowding and lack of safety on board the
Joola, without ever carrying out its legal obligation to prevent
the ship from sailing," according to the report of the commission
of inquiry.
The Joola capsized in rough seas off the coast of Gambia, a thin
strip of a country that juts into the middle of Senegal, on
September 26.
President Abdoulaye Wade on Monday sacked his government in the
wake of the disaster and named one of his closest aides, Idriss
Seck, new prime minister.
The head of the official investigation, Seydou Madani Sy, said
the death toll from the disaster was 1 200 lives, revising sharply upwards an earlier official toll of 970.
Only 64 people survived the accident, the worst in Senegal
maritime history and in modern African history.
Members of the commission said Joola had not had a certificate
of seaworthiness since 1998.
"The Joola was no longer conforming to international regulations
regarding safety equipment," the report said, a copy of which was
seen by AFP.
The ship was found to be carrying double its legal capacity of
550 passengers and about 40 crew. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA