MV Ilala aborts journey on Lake Malawi amid strong Mwera winds
Passengers aboard MV Ilala on Tuesday night prayed ceaselessly as strong Mwera winds ceaselessly pounded the ship, knocking off its lights soon after leaving Likoma island for Nkhotakota.
Some passengers who were on board the MV Ilala said the situation got out of hand as the ship was heading to Nkhotakota on its way to Monkey Bay.
“The waters were really rough. We were sailing in choppy waters. The lights went off and one of the engines went off. The captain then announced that he had lost campus direction, this was the time we thought we were dying,” said one of the passengers Mark Banda.
He said the captain managed to steer the ship in the total darkness and announced that they would be returning to Nkhata Bay, aborting the Monkey Bay trip on the middle of the lake.
Mota Engil spokesperson Thomas Chafunya said the the captain returned to Nkhata Bay for the safety of the passengers.
He said the ship will embark on the journey as soon as the weather improves.
Meteorological and Climate Change director Jerome Nkhokwe said the strong mwera winds are expected to disappear over the weekend.
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1. MV Ilala must be grounded its way too old.
2. Weather experts dziko lasintha ili we have more precise weather forecasts that should alert anthu to zinthu ngati ndege, road travellers and ma ship. Olo mulibe zipangizo google can help.
3. Captain amayenela kupeza njira yabwino yonenela uthenga. Azazandikila anthu ayamba kudumphila mmadzi pomwe despite loss power and engine plus campus he managed to get to Nkhatabay.
4. I hope all safety provisions are comphrehensively available in our ships otherwise its and accident in waiting.
We thank GOD for his mercy,noi lives lost
ILLA started operating in 1951 and now its too old.
This Mv ILLA Was Commission and started opening in 1951. The ILLA is too old to operate And one Day it will Kill Malawians. Ndiye this shit adzayika Maluwa a Nkhata Kumanda. NV ILLA must no longer operate don’t wait until
It kills A Malawi. ILLA now should be grounded and and keep at museum Monkey bay.
This is the most reliable vessel as far as the trips on the lake are concerned. The development has obviously created panic and some anxieties in passengers sailing across the lake. Let’s hope that calm will return on the lake as indicated by weather experts
Kumalawi tilibe azanyengo. Tikanakhala nao ILALA sikadanyamuka. Azanyengo kaphuzileni zomwe anzanu ku america ndi kumangalande akuchita. I can even help you with some tips. Jack up please. Tidzingodzidzimuka mwezi wafila, heyi kadamsana, oh mphepo yamvuta. Anzanu amachenjeza anthu months or weeks before ndege tsiku lakuti zisayende kudzakhala snow, or mphepo or mmmmmmm. Tere pa 28 July 2018 pano mudzati zachitika usiku wapa 27 July 2018 zija ndi chifukwa mmmmmmm. Mumaoneka anzeru zikachitika. Chidwi patchito yanu mulibe. God bless Malawi.
How did the ‘Captain” manage to steer to NKHATA Bay if he had lost campus bearing? Again a Captain can not make an announcement that would make passengers panic.