70 feared dead in boat accident in Uganda
August 2nd, 2010 - 5:45 pm ICT by IANSKampala, Aug 2 (DPA) Over 70 people are feared to have drowned after storms overturned an overloaded boat in Uganda’s Lake Albert, reports said Monday.
The accident was the latest in a spate of regional boating accidents - in Uganda and neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo - which in total have claimed hundreds of lives.
“The boat had a capacity of 40 people and two tonnes of fish, but it was carrying about 90 people plus luggage,” The New Vision newspaper quoted local police official Romeo Ojara as saying
At least 73 people are believe to have died in the accident which happened Saturday. Rescuers are still searching for bodies.
Boating accidents are common in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where over-loaded boats ferry passengers across lakes and down river networks.
A similar accident in DR Congo last week claimed at least 138 lives.
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- 18 drowned after boat capsizes on Ugandan lake - Sep 25, 2008
- At least 130 dead after boat overturns in DR Congo - Jul 29, 2010
- Hundreds believed dead in Congo boat accidents - Sep 06, 2010
- 50 drown in Comoros boat accident - Aug 09, 2011
- 18 dead, 20 missing as boat capsizes in Uttar Pradesh (Second Lead) - Jun 14, 2010
- Ballia boat accidents expose negligence of authorities - Jul 02, 2010
- 25 dead as boat capsizes in Uttar Pradesh (Third Lead) - Jun 14, 2010
- 35 dead as boat capsizes in Bihar (Lead) - Oct 11, 2010
- 26 killed in UN plane crash in Africa (Lead) - Apr 05, 2011
- Six dead as boat capsizes in Uttar Pradesh - May 28, 2011
- 10 killed as UN plane crashes - Apr 05, 2011
- 41 killed in Uttar Pradesh accident - Aug 22, 2011
- 13 die as boat capsizes (Lead) - Dec 26, 2010
- Ugandan rebels killed 321 in Congo massacre: Rights group - Mar 28, 2010
Tags: aug 2, boat accident, boating accidents, democratic republic of congo, dpa, dr congo, ferry passengers, kampala, luggage, neighbouring, new vision, police official, regional boating, republic of congo, rescuers, river networks, s lake, spate, storms, tonnes