Efforts underway to rescue trapped fishermen

Efforts underway to rescue trapped fishermen Written By:Nicholas Kigondu,    Posted: Fri, Aug 31, 2012

Their fishing vessels got trapped by water hyacinth along Rambira Beach in Rachuonyo North District Emergency response teams  are making efforts  to rescue over 80 fishermen who were reportedly trapped in lake Victoria after their fishing vessels got  ensnared by water hyacinth along Rambira Beach in Rachuonyo North District. The fishermen who were on a fishing expedition are said to have endured 24 hours of anguish since their vessels stalled. The fishermen were in a convoy of 20 boats and had ventured into the deep waters in search of fish when the misfortune struck.  The Kenya Red Cross society is spearheading the rescue operation jointly backed by Kenya Maritimes Authority. The government through the region's provincial administration has also promised to avail a chopper to bolster the rescue operation while the Ministry of Health will supply rehydration solution for the fishermen. According the Kenya Red Cross Society, Homabay county  is faced with  a serious threat of  water hyacinth, a deadly weed that has covered over 100 acres into Lake Victoria. The floating mats of water hyacinth weed are severely affecting fishing, navigation, drainage, water supply and power generation schemes.  Kenya Red Cross Emergency Operation Center has issued an alert warning residents and travelers that they risk getting trapped as boats and canoes encounter difficulties navigating through water surfaces chocked with water hyacinths.