Death toll in Zambia boat accident rises to 15

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - The death toll from Tuesday’s boat accident in northern Zambia has risen to 15, police said Thursday.

In a statement, police deputy spokesman Danny Mwale said the rescue operation had been enhanced by a joint battalion of military marines to search for the remaining bodies.

The accident happened in the early hours of Tuesday, when a boat transporting 32 people capsized in Lake Mweru due to strong waves.

Two people, including a coxswain, died immediately in the accident, while 18 others managed to swim to safety in a boat, which was carrying mostly Congolese heading toward the Kashobwe area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from Kilwa Island on the Zambian side.

“Seven bodies have been retrieved. Two were retrieved yesterday (Wednesday) at around 18:00 hours and five in the early hours of today. The total number of bodies retrieved so far is 15 and these have been deposited in a hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem and burial, while a joint rescue operation led by the Zambia army special forces continues,” Mwale said.

Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali was quoted on state television this week saying the government was looking at ways of securing marine travel to protect lives.