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Four missing Malindi fishermen found alive on Chinese ship

Members of the Kenya Coast Guard Services. (Photo: KCGS)

By Farhiya Hussein | Tuesday, December 26, 2023

The families of the rescued fishermen will have to wait until February for their reunion as the ship is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka before then.

In a remarkable turn of events, the fate of four Malindi fishermen, missing since November in the Indian Ocean, has taken a positive twist after they were found alive.

Reliable sources within the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS), collaborating closely with the fishermen's families on an extensive search and rescue operation, have received confirmation of their survival from a Chinese fishing vessel.

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This Chinese vessel, operating within Kenyan waters, stumbled upon a capsized fishing boat carrying the four fishermen.

"We found four people in a capsized boat, we have them on board, but they will not be repatriated until the vessel docks in Sir Lanka," as reported by a statement seen by nation.africa.

Despite the joyous news, the families of the rescued fishermen will have to wait until February for their reunion as the ship is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka before then.

Initially reported missing in early December, the four fishermen had been unaccounted for over a week. They had embarked on a deep-sea fishing expedition departing from Malindi Beach on November 30, with plans to return after a week.

"The fishermen, aboard the Jodari, a white-hulled fishing vessel powered by a 40HP Yamaha engine, had seemingly vanished into the expansive ocean," detailed a section of the missing persons report by KCGS.

Under the leadership of Sergeant Nyongesa aboard KMA 05, the tireless search and rescue team relentlessly combed through secluded bays, navigating the vast waters near Kichwa Cha Kati, CMM Rasi, and beyond in their quest to locate the missing fishermen.