Two children dead in Kenya boat accident

REMBA ISLAND, Kenya, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A boat carrying 200 passengers capsized in Kenya's Lake Victoria late Tuesday evening, causing two deaths.

Initially, at least 30 people were feared dead. Local fishermen said that nine people had perished, but only three bodies were recovered at the time of the incident.

On Wednesday morning, the Kenya Red Cross Society announced via Twitter that it was sending a rescue team to the site. Police from nearby Nyandiwa, Mgingo and Remba islands also provided assistance as the victims were transported to nearby Kiwa Island.

Twenty-four bodies were ultimately recovered. Additionally, two children were confirmed dead: Fatou Bensouda, 2, as well as Eda Anyango, 4. They were traveling with their mother to the Kenyan port city of Kisumu.

Though the exact cause of the accident remains unknown, it is believed that the passenger boat came into contact with a stationary fishing boat which caused it to go under. Four fishermen were aboard. Home Bay county commander John Omusanga additionally denied claims that were there 200 people aboard the boat.