Four white passengers and three crew members are missing after a Tanzanian-registered speedboat disappeared while crossing Lake Malawi from Mbamba Bay in Tanzania to Nkhata Bay in Malawi, triggering a search and rescue operation. The vessel, Makutuwima Cruise, departed Mbamba Bay between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. Owned by businessman Andrew Makutuwima Nyirenda, the speedboat is powered by two 90-horsepower Yamaha outboard engines. Authorities became aware of the incident after the boat failed to arrive at its scheduled destination and communication with those on board was lost. According to Senior Assistant Surveyor of Vessels for Nkhata Bay, Chikosa Mkandawire, the seven people on board comprised four white passengers and a crew of three comprising of two Malawians and one Tanzanian. “It is suspected that the vessel may have developed a mechanical fault while on the lake, although the exact cause of its disappearance has not yet been established,” Mkandawire said. Search teams are combing the waters of Lake Malawi in an effort to locate the missing vessel and its occupants. Mkandawire also reminded boat operators that Malawi’s maritime regulations require the Port Master to be notified at least 24 hours before a vessel departs. In this case, no such notification was received. He appealed to fishermen, boat operators and lakeshore communities to report any sighting of the missing speedboat or its passengers to the nearest marine or security authorities without delay. Authorities say further updates will be provided as the search continues. Post navigation ππππππππ-ππππππππππ πππππ πππππππ ππ πππ: πππππππππ πππππ ππππ πππππ ππππππππ πππππππ Malawiβs law professor president skips first VP, hands Cabinet meeting to second vice president