Two People Confirmed Dead, Eight Missing as Boat Capsizes in Lake Victoria

Two people have been confirmed dead while eight others are missing after a boat they were traveling in capsized in Lake Victoria on Tuesday evening.

The victims were heading to Ndhiru Beach in Mbita from Pier Beach within Homa Bay town when the vessel sunk.

Six people have since been rescued and were rushed to Homa Bay sub-county hospital for treatment.

The boat is reported to have capsized less than a kilometer away from the beach over suspected overloading of passengers and luggage, including bags of cement, timber, pieces of iron sheets, and foodstuff.

The two deceased persons include a woman and an 18-month-old, according to Homa Bay township location Chief Joshua Ochogo.

Their bodies were retrieved during the rescue mission by fishermen, who responded to the passengers’ distress call.

A search mission by fishermen and well-wishers is ongoing for the eight unaccounted passengers, who are feared dead.

Ochogo said the ill-fated boat was carrying passengers and luggage beyond its recommended capacity, which might have caused the accident.

He warned passengers against boarding overloaded boats and always put on life saving gear to avert such incidents.