Rescuers recover two bodies in Mara canoe accident

Two out 13 bodies that were missing after a canoe capsized in Lake Victoria have been recovered.

Rescuers were able to recover the bodies of two young girls by 5pm yesterday but were unable to locate the remaining bodies.

The operation was frustrated by difficult weather and depth of the area.

Some 13 people, including 11 school children were feared dead on Sunday after a canoe they were travelling in capsized on Lake Victoria.

The Fire and Rescue Force continued said efforts to look for the remaining bodies continued.

The accident occurred on Sunday evening at Mchigondo Village as the the victims crossed from Bulomba area of Igundu Village for a church service in Mchigondo.

Mara Regional Commander of the Fire and Rescue Force, Mr Agostino Magere said the force had deployed two boats with 22 officers from Mara and Mwanza.

“Weather and depth of water have been a big challenge for the rescue mission,” he said.

Relatives and family members of the missing people have been spending day and night on the coast of the lake, waiting for the fate of their loved ones.

Mara Regional Commissioner, Saidi Mtanda, said the government will take care of the funerals after recovering the bodies.

"The government will offer transport and console every family with Sh1 million.

“We would love to see all people come alive but hopes are dashing,” he said.
Igundu Village chairperson, Sumils Nyamkinda said the villagers use canoe to cross from one village to another to avoid costs as the canoe normally carries them for free.

"We do not have bus transport here despite the fact that the road is good. Normally, we use motorcycles which cost between Sh3,000 and Sh4,000,” he said, adding that the free canoe transport was not official.

"Many people around this place are fishermen and therefore help each other with the transport,” he added.

Igundu village is estimated to have 6,000 residents mainly involved in fishing and farming.

The villagers get some other services like hospital, markets and secondary school from the nearby villages, forcing them to walk about four kilometres or take a ride.