Lake Victoria boat capsized: Two dead after passenger boat collides with fishing boat

Police in Kenya said the passenger boat was travelling to Kiwa Island

Satellite image of Lake Victoria, which is divided between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania (REX FEATURES )

Two children have died after a boat carrying 23 passengers capsized on Lake Victoria in Kenya.

The boat had been been travelling from Remba Island to Kiwa Island when it collided with a fishing boat in the early hours of Wednesday morning at around 2:00 am.

The region’s police chief Willy Lugusa said the bodies of two children have been recovered.

Initial reports from the area stated the passenger boat had been carrying 200 people with local media claiming as many as 30 people were feared dead, but police have since confirmed the boat had 23 people on board, 21 of whom have now been rescued, Lugusa said.

There were four people on the fishing boat, with no reports of casualties.

Additional reporting by AP