The East African Ocean Festival in Mombasa was overshadowed by tragedy when the boat MV Dragon capsized at the Tudor Creek near the Mombasa Waters Sports, leaving three people feared dead.

The boat, carrying 22 participants from the Bangladesh slums in Jomvu sub-county, was taking part in a dragon boat race, a feature of the festival now in its second year.

The disaster triggered a large-scale rescue operation, coordinated by Mombasa County Lands Executive Mohamed “Amadoh” Hussein.

Nineteen people were successfully rescued, though one remains in critical condition and two others were treated for severe trauma.

The search for the three missing individuals continues, with multiple agencies—including the Kenya Navy, the Kenya Coast Guard Services, and the Mombasa Fire and Rescue Services—mobilized in the area.

Chief Fire Officer and Disaster Coordinator Ibrahim Basafar revealed the severity of the challenge, particularly the critical state of the one rescued survivor.

He lamented that the emergency response was deliberately obstructed when agitated youth and bystanders at the scene began pelting county staff with stones.

The ICU-capacity ambulance was rendered immobile by the attack, forcing staff to transfer the critically ill patient, who was already on oxygen support, to another vehicle, a highly risky procedure.

Basafar emphasized the demoralizing effect of the violence, stating that the county was merely providing support to a private event and should not be victimized.

Authorities are now considering the outright cancellation of the remainder of the festival.

Giving a firsthand account, participant Ishmael Onyango recounted the chilling moment the boat went over near the finish line during the “best losers” race.

After the capsize, he saw others struggle and recalled having to swim hard to save himself.

He noted the difficulty in turning the boat over and observed that the responding orange rescue boat was inadequately equipped with only a single buoy.

The search efforts continue as the community grapples with the tragedy that struck during an event meant to celebrate marine activities and tourism.