On Wednesday, July 18, 2012 around 13:50 local time, a passenger ferry, "MV Skagit" that carries passengers and crew numbering about 280 people capsized and sank near the island of Chumbe, Zanzibar.
The ferry, serving the route of Dar es Salaam-Zanzibar, left Dar es Salaam at 12:00 hours local time (4 pm GMT) and after sailing for about 2 hours, was hit by high waves and capsized. Up until Thursday, July 19, 2012 the information gathered were: 30 dead, 150 survivors and 100 people are expected to remain missing.
The sinking of the "MV Skagit" (made in 1989 which in 2011 were bought by the shipping company Seagull, Zanzibar) is thought to be caused by bad weather (high winds made high ocean waves) that hit the islands of Zanzibar and Tanzania on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 yesterday. The vessel became uncontrollable and then capsized and sank.
Maritime tragedy in the waters of Zanzibar was also happen in September 2011 that hit the ship "MV Spice Islanders" on the way from Zanzibar to Pemba island. Authorities investigation resulting in claim that the ship was sinking due to overloading. Recorded casualties in the accident are about 800 people died.
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Dar es Salaam has checked against the citizens who live in Zanzibar and Pemba islands and found that none of them are traveling with both ship in question. For information, there are some citizens who worked in the Hotel and Resort spread all over Zanzibar. So far as the Embassy’s observation, there are no Indonesian citizens who were victims of the sinking. (Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Dar es Salaam).