Tanzania’s Lake Rukwa was struck by powerful gusts of wind on Friday, leaving at least 10 fishermen missing and prompting the rescue of 550 others, according to officials.
By Saturday morning, local authorities had not yet located the 10 missing fishermen, who were caught in the storm while carrying out their regular fishing activities. Chacha Mchaka, head of the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force in the Rukwa region, confirmed the ongoing search efforts.
Nyakia Chirukile, the district commissioner for Sumbawanga in the Rukwa region, explained that rescue teams were working tirelessly to locate the fishermen, who had been on the lake when the winds struck unexpectedly.
In response to the disaster, the Tanzanian government dispatched an army helicopter and diving teams to assist with the rescue operation. Tanzanian Minister for Home Affairs Innocent Bashungwa noted that several government officials had visited the scene of the incident late on Friday to oversee the ongoing efforts.
Lake Rukwa, located in southwestern Tanzania, is the third-largest inland water body in the country. The incident has raised concerns over the safety of those working on the lake and sparked calls for improved safety measures due to the region’s unpredictable weather patterns.