KDF Rescues 16 After Dubai-Bound Dhow Catches Fire Off Somalia Coast
Sixteen people were rescued after a Dubai-bound dhow caught fire in the Indian Ocean off Somalia’s coast. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) led the maritime rescue operation on October 29, 2025.
Emergency Response Off Kismayo
The wooden vessel had departed from Kismayo Port en route to Dubai when it burst into flames about nine kilometers northeast of the port. KDF’s Special Boat Unit (SBU), deployed under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), responded immediately to a distress call.
Working alongside local boats, SBU personnel evacuated all 16 crew members safely. Survivors were handed over to the Port Authority for medical and logistical support.
Fire Intensified by Wooden Structure
Images from the scene showed thick smoke and flames consuming the dhow’s upper decks. The vessel’s wooden construction accelerated the fire, worsening damage and raising risks to those on board.
KDF’s Maritime Readiness Highlighted
KDF praised its SBU team for swift, professional action. The rescue underscores Kenya’s ongoing role in regional maritime security and emergency response along the Somali and Kenyan coasts.
Recent Similar Rescue in Mombasa
This incident follows another KDF-led rescue just two weeks prior. On October 13, Kenya Navy personnel saved 19 people after a boat capsized during the East African Ocean Festival in Mombasa. Three others tragically drowned. A joint search recovered their bodies later. The Kenya Red Cross and Mombasa County officials led this search.
