MWANZA — 1996 · Major Tragedy
MV Bukoba Ferry Disaster
On the morning of 21 May 1996 the MV Bukoba ferry, sailing across Lake Victoria from Bukoba to Mwanza, capsized and sank about 56 kilometres from Mwanza. The vessel, built for 430 passengers, had 443 registered passengers in first and second class, but no passenger list was kept for its cheap third class. The exact death toll was therefore never established; official records list 894 deaths while estimates reach 1,000. It is recorded as the deadliest maritime disaster in the Southern Hemisphere. The president declared three days of national mourning. Reviews found serious safety failings, including overloading, missing life-saving equipment and inadequate crew licensing, and nine railway corporation officials, including the captain, were charged.
- Date
- 1996
- Place
- Lake Victoria, Tanzania, Mwanza, TZ
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- -1.9840, 32.3190 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 21 May 1996MV Bukoba capsized off Mwanza.
- May 1996The president declared three days of national mourning.
- 1996Official records set the death toll at 894.
- 1996Nine Tanzania Railways officials, including the captain, were charged.
Sources
- The Citizen — 21 years on, MV Bukoba is still remembered thecitizen.co.tz ↗
- Wikipedia — MV Bukoba en.wikipedia.org ↗
- The Citizen (Tanzanya)
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.