Two passengers confirmed dead, eight others are still missing while six rescued after the boat they were sailing in capsized in waters of Lake Victoria near Pier Beach within Homa-Bay town when travelling to Ndhiru beach in Mbita Sub County this evening.
The boat is said to have capsized at 400 meters away from the beach over suspected overloading with passengers and luggage.
According to chief of Homa-Bay town location 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 passengers distress call during the incident.
He confirms that the six passengers who were rescued have been taken to Homa-Bay county Referral Hospital for treatment while two bodies are moved to the mortuary at the same facility.
Mr. Ochogo adds that the searching mission for Eight other passengers who are feared dead is still underway, in an exercise which is being carried out by fishermen and well wishers.
Ochogo says that the boat carried passengers and luggage like bags of cement, timber, pieces of iron sheets and food stuff beyond its recommended capacity which might have caused the accident
The administrator warns the passengers against boarding overloaded boats, urging them to always put on live saving gear to avert such eventualities.