At least 16 people were rescued in the Indian Ocean along the coast of Somalia after a Dubai-bound dhow they were travelling in burst into flames.
In a statement on Thursday, October 30, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) revealed that military officers from the Special Boat Unit (SBU) were immediately deployed at the scene.
According to KDF, the officers who were serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) responded after receiving a distress call after the dhow caught fire off the coast of Kismayo.
The vessel had departed from the Port of Kismayo en route to Dubai on Wednesday, October 29, when it caught fire approximately nine kilometres northeast of the port.
In a well-coordinated rescue effort with local boats, the special boat unit personnel successfully rescued all 16 crew members on board. The survivors were later handed over to the Port Authority for further attention and assistance.
Images of the incident obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed part of the dhow engulfed in fire, with thick smoke emerging through the windows and consuming the upper decks.
The scenario was further exacerbated by the fact that the dhow had been made of wood, a highly flammable material, increasing the extent of the damage.
According to KDF, the prompt and effective response by the KDF Special Boat Unit demonstrated professionalism and readiness to handle emergencies, particularly in maritime crises.
It further highlighted the officers' continued commitment to safeguarding lives and supporting stability operations along the Somali and Kenyan coastlines.
In an analogous incident two weeks ago, on October 13, military personnel from the Kenya Navy successfully rescued 19 people after a boat capsized during the East African Ocean Festival at Tudor Watersports in Mombasa County.
The boat had 22 people on board and 19 being rescued while three were reported. Among those rescued, three were in critical condition and were immediately rushed to Coast General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Following the incident, the Kenya Navy, jointly with the Kenya Red Cross and the Mombasa County Government, launched a coordinated search for the missing trio. The three bodies were all later retrieved.
