Death toll rises to 19 in Tanzania's Lake Tanganyika boat accident

DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Tanzania's Lake Tanganyika grisly boat accident rose to 19, an official said on Sunday.

Amaniel Sekulu, the Principal Officer for the Surface and Marine Transport and Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA) in Kigoma region, said six more bodies of the boat passengers were discovered on Sunday.

Thirteen passengers died on Friday after two boats collided in Lake Tanganyika, the second oldest freshwater lake in the world.

Sekulu said the boats called MV Atakalo Mola, which was carrying 65 passengers and MV Pasaka, which had 137 passengers on board, collided at 3 a.m. on Friday.

"Many of the passengers on board MV Pasaka were worshippers from the Pentecostal Church of God who were heading to join neighboring church congregations for Christmas celebrations," said Sekulu.

Sekulu said divers from the marine police unit, the Tanzania People's Defense Forces and local divers from Kigoma town and nearby villages were still carrying out rescue operations. Enditem