Hundreds of passengers were on Tuesday morning stranded at the Likoni Ferry Channel after Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) suspended operations of MV Nyayo and MV Harambee due to high tides in the ocean.
The high tides were cause by heavy rains that are being experienced across the coastal region, thus leading to flooding. Before suspension of services, there was panic after a ferry with passengers was pushed by high tides towards deep sea after it broke down.
The heavy rains have led to destruction of property and loss of lives. A woman and her three children were among six people killed when a perimeter wall collapsed on their makeshift house in Mombasa’s Vipingo area on Monday. Learning has also been paralyzed in some of the schools across the region.
“We are experiencing delays due to change of weather. The ocean is experiencing high tides hence the coxswain not able to control ferries,” said the KFS MD Bakari Gowa during a press briefing.
Through their twitter account, KFS said tides were reaching as high as three meters and warned passengers of slowing down of their ferries due to the current weather conditions and heavy sea currents being experienced.