| |
N0KFQ > TODAY 07.04.14 17:03l 46 Lines 2036 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 17128_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Apr 7
Path: IZ3LSV<IW8PGT<F1OYP<F4DUR<CX2SA<N0KFQ
Sent: 140407/1502Z 17128@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.58
Apr 7, 1990:
Twin ferry accidents on opposite ends of world
In a tragic coincidence, two separate ferry accidents in
different areas of the world take the lives of a reported 325
people on this day in 1990. The first took place in Myanmar
(formerly Burma) on the Gyaing River. Later in the day,
Scandinavia was also rocked by tragedy.
A double-decker ferry traveling from Moulmein to Kyondo along the
Gyaing River in Myanmar was carrying approximately 240 passengers
and crew through a violent storm with very strong winds. The
intensity of the wind gusts was compounded by the ferry operators
failure to properly distribute the weight of the passengers in
the boat, a deadly error. The combination caused the ferry to tip
over and eventually to turn over completely in the water. Many of
the people on board were trapped underwater. An estimated 215 of
the ferry s 240 passengers perished. (Exact numbers are
impossible to know because reporting of the accident was
restricted by Myanmar s military dictatorship.)
On the night of that same day, the Scandinavian Star, a
Danish-owned vessel, was making its first trip after being bought
by VR-DANO from SeaEscape, Ltd. It was carrying 493 passengers
and their cars and trucks from Oslo, Norway, to Frederikshaven,
Denmark. The vessel was in the Skagerrak Strait, which stretches
between Norway and Denmark, when fire broke out on board. While
the crew put out the fire, a second undetected fire was raging
out of control. Smoke detectors failed and no fire alarm was set
off. The crew, most speaking only Portuguese, were not prepared
for the emergency and were unable to communicate escape plans to
the passengers. While some made it to lifeboats, panic ensued,
and 110 died, mainly from smoke inhalation.
When help arrived, firefighters found three lucky survivors amid
the horrible carnage on this deadly day on the seas. Tugboats
then dragged the ship to Lydokil, Norway.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Using Outpost Ver 2.8.0 c42
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
