Three people out of the total 20 have been confirmed dead after a boat they were in capsized on Lake Mweru in Luapula Province on Wednesday.

Luapula Province Police Commissioner Elias Chushi confirmed the development to News Diggers! in an interview.

“We are not sure of the exact number of people who are still on the water, but so far, we have retrieved three bodies. The accident happened yesterday (Wednesday). The search is still on going,” Chushi explained.

And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Felix Phiri told ZANIS that the boat that capsized was believed to have been carrying about 40 people from Nchelenge to one of the islands in the district.

Phiri said 19 people had been rescued and were receiving medical attention at Saint Paul’s Mission Hospital in Nchelenge.

He said the Marine 48 Commandos and other well-wishers were currently searching for the missing people on the lake.