KISUMU, Kenya, Nov 1 - At least seven people were confirmed dead late on Monday after a boat capsized in Lake Victoria.
Up to 13 people are reported to have been in the boat that went under shortly after 5 pm, according to local police.
Suba Police chief, Cheruto Githinji had earlier told Capital News on telephone that the number of dead could be as high as 15 people.
Later she said: “We have since established that it is seven people who have died. Six others have been rescued and taken to Mbita district hospital.”
“The boat was overloaded because these people were coming from a funeral. They had carried a lot of items including chairs when the boat capsized,” Ms Githinji said.
Reports from lakeside town of Kisumu indicated that the boat was headed to Mfangano Island from Rusinga Island.
There were no immediate details on how far the boat had sailed from Rusinga Island.
Police said they were trying to ascertain the identifies of those killed in order to inform the next of kin.
In July 2010, 28 people died after their boat capsized in the same lake.
The accident occurred about 15 kilometres away from Jaana which is located between Koome and Bubeke Islands in Kalangala district.
Only four people were rescued after holding onto pieces of the boat.
Up to 13 people are reported to have been in the boat that went under shortly after 5 pm, according to local police.
Suba Police chief, Cheruto Githinji had earlier told Capital News on telephone that the number of dead could be as high as 15 people.
Later she said: “We have since established that it is seven people who have died. Six others have been rescued and taken to Mbita district hospital.”
“The boat was overloaded because these people were coming from a funeral. They had carried a lot of items including chairs when the boat capsized,” Ms Githinji said.
Reports from lakeside town of Kisumu indicated that the boat was headed to Mfangano Island from Rusinga Island.
There were no immediate details on how far the boat had sailed from Rusinga Island.
Police said they were trying to ascertain the identifies of those killed in order to inform the next of kin.
In July 2010, 28 people died after their boat capsized in the same lake.
The accident occurred about 15 kilometres away from Jaana which is located between Koome and Bubeke Islands in Kalangala district.
Only four people were rescued after holding onto pieces of the boat.
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