Kenyan rescuers are considering calling off the search for victims of the Lamu boat accident on Wednesday.
This comes after a massive two-day rescue operation that failed to yield any bodies or signs of missing individuals.
Reports said the rescuers had found the wreckage of the boat but no more victims.
Officials said Kenyan government will halt the operations since the chances of finding any other bodies are slim.
SOUDNBITE (SWAHILI) EARNEST MUNYI, PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER: “According to the briefing we got from the Red Cross and rescuers we don’t expect to have any other body and we expect to bring out the boat so people see the operations will come to a halt.”
Officials said the government will foot all the hospital expenses of the admitted persons and set up an inter-agency maritime security unit to curb future disasters.
Kenya Red Cross had put the number of passengers on the boat at 82.
The Red Cross said nine people had been confirmed dead, 25 were rescued and 23 swam to safety, while 16 people were still missing.
**The boat was ferrying passengers across the sea when it collided with the other transporting fuel supplies in drums.
The two boats according to police were unlit and were excessively loaded with passengers who had just enjoyed the New Year festivities.**
Most of the passengers were students returning to schools on the mainland.