Fishing boat sinks in storm off Karachi coast

Crew rescued by fellow fishermen in nearby waters

KARACHI:

A fishing boat sank in the Arabian Sea after being caught up in a powerful storm off Karachi coast on Friday.

However, all 18 crewmembers on board were rescued, thanks to the swift assistance from their fellow fishermen.

The disaster struck the fishing boat, named 'Al Wadud', which was returning to Karachi after a month-long fishing expedition. The boat, heavily laden with fish, capsized in the deep sea due to the powerful winds.

According to Nasir Buneri, the security in-charge of the Karachi Fish Harbour, the accident occurred between Hingul and Charna Island.

The 18 fishermen on board were lucky to be saved by their colleagues who promptly responded to the distress call.

The fishermen were en route to Karachi, anticipating their arrival at the harbour on May 27.

Reports suggest that the boat's keel broke, leading to its fragmentation and subsequent sinking into the depths of the sea.

Stranded on the broken boat's planks, the fishermen endured strong winds and turbulent waves while awaiting rescue.

Akhtar Munir, the captain of the boat, promptly alerted nearby fishermen to the dire situation. Another boat, named 'Al-Yousfi, fishing in the vicinity, swiftly arrived at the scene and rescued the crew from the clutches of the treacherous sea.

As per Nasir Buneri's estimates, the sunk boat, along with its cargo of fish and prawns, amounted to a loss of Rs200 to 300 million.