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Two people have been reported dead while eight others are still missing after a boat they were sailing in capsized in Lake Victoria near Pier Beach within Homa-Bay town.
The victims were travelling to Ndhiru beach in Mbita Sub County yesterday evening when the incident occurred.
Six of them have since been rescued.
The boat is said to have capsized about 400 meters away from the beach over suspected overloading of passengers and luggage which included bags of cement, timber, pieces of iron sheets and food stuff.
According to Homa-Bay township location Chief Joshua Ochogo, the two bodies include that of a woman and a one and half year-old minor who were retrieved during the rescue mission by fishermen who responded to the passengersβ distress call.
He confirmed that the six passengers who were rescued have been taken to Homa-Bay County Referral Hospital for treatment while bodies of the deceased were moved to the morgue at the same facility.
Meanwhile a search mission by fishermen and well wishers is underway for the other eight passengers who are feared dead.
The area chief said the boat was carrying passengers and luggage beyond its recommended capacity which might have caused the accident.
“This accident occured due to overloading. Let us observe the required number of people that should be carried,” said Ochogo.
The administrator has warned passengers against boarding overloaded boats and urged them to always put on live saving gear to avert such incidents.
“And why should you board an overloaded boat surely. That’s risking your Life and that of others,” he added.