LUBUMBASHI, Congo, Jan 30, Thirteen people were killed, and dozens remain missing, after an overloaded barge sank in central Africa's Lake Tanganyika overnight Monday, the maritime inspection service said Wednesday.
The disaster took place about five kilometres from Kalemie port, on the Democratic Republic of Congo side of the lake that is also shared by Tanzania, Burundi and Zambia.
"Thirteen bodies have been recovered, including nine children," a maritime inspector in Kalemie said, adding that it was believed that more than 100 people had been on board the vessel.
Another port official at Kalemie, Xavier Kasimbo, said that 17 people had been rescued by fishermen shortly after the barge went down.
Lying in the Great Rift Valley, finger-shaped Lake Tanganyika is one of the largest lakes in Africa, with large populations of hippopotamuses and crocodiles.
Topic: Thirteen dead as barge sinks in Lake Tanganyika (Read 1236 times)