70 Died on Boat Drifting for Over Two Weeks off Somalia

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 15, 2002

70 Died on Boat Drifting for Over Two Weeks off Somalia

Seventy people have died and fifty others are in critical condition after a boat carrying 120 people has suffered an engine problem in the Red Sea off Somalia's seawaters.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Seventy people have died and fifty others are in critical condition after a boat carrying 120 people has suffered an engine problem in the Red Sea off Somalia's seawaters.

According to the reports reaching here, the boat which left Marear village close to the northeastern port town of Bossaso 17 days ago has ended up afloat in the Las Qorey coastal town of Sanag region Sunday.

According to eyewitnesses in Las Qorey town who do not want to be named, the boat has reached there with 50 people on board, all in critical condition and six seamen, all young men, who navigatedthe boat.

The seamen were among a few on board the boat who could stand on their own feet on their arrival, the rest have been rushed to the small treatment center in the town.

According to some of those on board the boat, they sailed off from Marear village on their way to Yemen fleeing Somalia in search of better life.

Those people have aimed at continuing their adventure from Yemen to Saudi Arabia where they think they would get employment and make a better living.

The problem happened just a day after they sailed off, according to the survivors.

Deputy district commissioner Abdalleh Mohamud was among the local officials who came out to help the people.

Likewise, dozens of the ordinary citizens have rushed to the scene to help with food and water, but they could not do a great deal as the people first and foremost need medical attention before anything else, said Abdalleh Mohamud.

It was an engine problem that the boat had suffered and the seamen could not fix nor could they return back to where they left,because they had to hide themselves from the local authority in the semi-autonomous administration of Puntland which earlier banned such boats to transport people to Yemen.

Hundreds of people have died in such adventures in the seas between Somalia and Yemen since the civil war broke out in Somaliasome 12 years ago.

Five of those seventy people who died had died in Las Qorey Sunday immediately after they made ashore.

"They were all weak and lacked the least ability even to talk,"said Mohamed Abdi, one local elders in the town.

The deputy district commissioner has appealed for help both medical and food for the people.

Two women among those on board the boat have delivered two children on board the boat which has been floating for 17 days on the water surface.

Most of the people have died a week after every thing on board boat finished, such as the water, food or anything else.

Also among the dead are children between the ages of 4 to 7, while most of the people on board have been Somalis and Ethiopiansall fleeing Somalia for a better life in the Arabian countries.

None of the six voyagers was caught as they all escaped back into Puntland especially in the area around the Bossaso town.

Las Qorey town is where Somalia's second and last democratically elected president, late Abdirishid Ali Sharmarkeh, was killed by one of his bodyguards on 15 October in 1969.

Questions?Comments? Click here

China's Automaker Invests in GM-Daewoo Joint Venture ( 2 Messages)

At least 182 Dead in Indonesian Island Blast: President ( 2 Messages)

Multinationals Fight for Chinese Markets ( 80 Messages)

China Opposes US Congress Committee's Interference in China's Internal Affairs ( 33 Messages)

Fewer Slogans, More Practical, Reflect Social Changes in China ( 31 Messages)