Arusha (Tanzania), Jan 10 : At least 12 persons died when a boat capsized in the Indian Ocean near north-eastern Tanzania's coastal city of Tanga, officials said on Tuesday.
Tanga Regional Police Commander Benedict Wakulyamba said that the boat was heading to Pemba island from Tanga. He said that 28 others were rescued, Xinhua new agency reported.
He said the accident occurred around 4.15 a.m. on Tuesday in an area close to Jambe island.
The police were still working on establishing the exact number of passengers on board.
He said that the dead included five children from one family and survivors were rushed to the Tanga regional hospital.
The boat MV Burudan was owned by a Pemba-based businessman.
The regional police chief said the cause of the accident was yet to be established, though earlier reports said that the boat was hit hard by a strong wave, lost control and capsized.
