Image copyright AFP Image caption Lake Malawi is one of the biggest lakes in Africa

A 67-year-old man has said he escaped death by clinging to a bag of maize flour after the boat he was on capsized on Lake Malawi.

Graciam Kondowe was among 54 passengers who police say survived after the boat overturned in stormy weather on Sunday.

Five people drowned while 11 are still missing, police said.

The boat was packed with worshippers returning from Easter celebrations when it capsized in the remote Rumphi district in northern Malawi.

Mr Kondowe told Malawi's privately owned Zodiac radio station that heavy winds buffeted the boat about 15 minutes into their journey.

The crew decided to return to shore, but the boat capsized before they could get back, he added.

Mr Kondowe said he held on to a bag of maize flour which fell out of the boat, and eventually swam his way to safety.

Eight of the 54 survivors are being treated in hospital after sustaining injuries, police officer Denis Banda said.

Locals residents used canoes to rescue most of the passengers, Malawian journalist Joab Chakhaza told the BBC.

Search operations are continuing for the 11 people still missing, but the chances of finding them alive are slim, he adds.

Boats are a common mode of transport on the vast Lake Malawi, and accidents of this magnitude are rare.

In 2012, 47 migrants fleeing drought and conflict in Somalia and Ethiopia drowned in the lake after their boat capsized.</s>At least 54 people have survived the boat accident which occurred on Lake Malawi in Rumphi on Sunday while 20 are still feared dead, authorities have confirmed.

The accident happened after a boat carrying 79 passengers capsized on the lake.

According to a press release from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), some of the survivors were rescued by people from surrounding communities while others swam back to the shore.

The death toll remains at five but 20 people are reported to be missing by their relatives.

“The Malawi Defence Force officers from Chilumba Barracks are on site of the accident to continue searching for those missing, in collaboration with the Malawi Police Service until they complete the rescue exercise,” reads the statement from DoDMA.

Government has since extended its condolence to the bereaved families for losing their loved ones during this tragic accident.

According to DoDMA, government will cover the costs of the funeral arrangements of the victims of the accident as well as taking care of the hospital bills for those who survived.

The tragedy occurred after the boat capsized at Mlowe on Lake Malawi in Rumphi.

The boat was on its way to New Salawe in Nkhata Bay via Tchalo, Zunga and Old Salawe in Rumphi but it capsized 100 metres into the lake.

Most of the 79 passengers on board were coming from Easter prayers.</s>The public is informed that a boat capsized at Mlowe on Lake Malawi in Rumphi District on Sunday, 16th April, 2017 at around 3:00 pm. Preliminary figures indicate that the boat was carrying 79 passengers. The boat was on its way to New Salawe in Nkhata Bay via Tchalo, Zunga and Old Salawe in Rumphi. Most of the passengers on the boat were coming from Easter prayers. The boat capsized at a distance of about 100 metres into the Lake soon after sail-off.

The public is further informed that, according to current information on the ground, 54 people survived during the accident after being rescued by people from sorrounding communities, while some swam back to the shore. Five (5) people have been confirmed dead, while twenty (20) people are reported to be missing by their relatives.

Government would like to assure the public that the Malawi Defence Force officers from Chilumba Barracks are on site of the accident to continue searching for those missing, in collaboration with the Malawi Police Service until they complete the rescue exercise.

Government extends condolences to the bereaved families for having lost their beloved ones during this tragic accident. Government undertakes to provide assistance towards the cost of the funeral arrangements of the victims of the accident and hospital bills of those who are receiving medical attention in hospital following this misfortune.

The public and well meaning organisations are advised to contact the following Government Officers for more updates regarding the boat accident and for any humanitarian assistance they wish to offer:
• Paul Kalilombe, Director of Response and Recovery, Department of Disaster Management Affairs. Phone Number : 0999 865 568.

DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT AFFAIRS, OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT</s>Five people have died while 37 are feared dead after a boat carrying them capsized on Lake Malawi in Rumphi.

The boat was carrying 50 people five of whom have been confirmed dead, eight have been rescued while the rest are still missing.

According to reports, the incident happened after a boat named Kayokha got swallowed by the fierce waters of Lake Malawi.

Rumphi Police Station Officer James Mpezeni said the victims are members of Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) and were on their way back from the mainland where they went to attend prayers.

“They were coming from Mlowe going to their respective homes at Tchalo. As of now, five people have died while eight are receiving treatment at Mlowe Health Centre. Search is still on to rescue the remaining ones,” said Mpezeni.

The rescue team is currently on the scene to help those that have survived the accident.

Unconfirmed reports disclose that the boat capsized due to overloading of passengers.</s>Blantyre - At least five churchgoers died after an overloaded wooden boat carrying more than 60 passengers back from Easter celebrations capsized on Lake Malawi, police said on Monday.

Police spokesperson Victor Khamisi said that the people died in the incident, which took place at about 14:00GMT on Easter Sunday in the northern district of Rumphi.

A total of 54 people had been rescued by Monday in a search assisted by military personnel and local fishermen, police said.

Khamisi said the passengers, members of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian were "coming back from Easter celebrations when the boat met heavy winds and capsized.

"We don't know the exact number of people missing but with the help of local and army divers, we have intensified the search," Khamisi added.</s>Member of Parliament for Rumphi East constituency Kamlepo Kalua says the Lake Malawi accident which has claimed several lives in Rumphi could have been avoided if government had built roads in the area.

So far it has been confirmed that five members of CCAP have died after the boat which they were travelling in capsized on the lake at Mlowe in Rumphi on Sunday. The boat was on its way to New Salawe in Nkhata Bay via Tchalo, Zunga and Old Salawe in Rumphi.

According to Kalua, if authorities had constructed a road connecting Mlowe and Msuku the incident could not have occurred.

“I pray God should grant us the grace to have a road connecting Mlowe, Zunga and Tchalo to Msuku. We could avoid such accidents and preventable deaths. It is a very big project that needs a lot of resources but with God all things are possible.

“We will continue exploring all possible ways of having this road. To all those that died on the boat accident; May their souls rest in peace,” reads part of his social media post.

As this post was made at least 54 people were said to have survived with 20 are still feared dead.

Meanwhile Malawi Defence Force (MDF) has joined the police in trying to rescue the remaining victims.</s>RUMPHI-(MaraviPost)—Sorrow has engulfed the people of Rumphi district in the Northern region, as over 50 people are feared dead after a boat carrying church members en-route from Easter prayers, capsized on Lake Malawi in Rumphi.

According to Zodiak radio, the accident involving members of the Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP), happened at around .

Rumphi Police Station Officer Charles Mpezeni, said as of afternoon, eight people had been rescued while eight bodies were recovered.

The people were returning to Tchalo from Mlowe in Rumphi district, where they had been attending Easter prayers since Friday.

Senior Superintendent Mpezeni, says the rescue operation continues, while police are yet to establish the cause of the accident.

There is speculation that the boat was overloaded when it capsized.

In recent days, Rumphi has experienced heavy rains, which could also have been contributed to the accident, according to Zodiak.

We will keep our reader informed as we get more information.</s>Altoona (WQOW) - According to WI DNR Warden Scott Thiede, two people were rescued on Lake Altoona after waves took over their boat Sunday afternoon.



Thiede said he was on his normal patrol when he noticed an empty boat trailer in the Lake Altoona parking lot, but did not notice a boat on the lake. After further surveying the scene, he noticed the tip of a boat sticking out of the lake with two people in life jackets floating nearby.



Thiede said the boaters were two men, but could not provide any other details, other than they are expected to be okay, thanks to the fact they had life jackets with them on the boat. He said two men spent about 20 minutes in the water before being rescued. Thiede said the water temperature was 50 degrees which leaves the men at risk for hypothermia. Their exact conditions are unknown.



"The boat went down fast, they put on life jackets fast and it's because of those life jackets they are alive," Thiede said. "It's very cold conditions out there, but they are doing well. They are very grateful they had life jackets on."



 Both men were transported by ambulance.



Now, it will be up to the boaters to retrieve the boat from the lake within 30 days according to state law. That statute says:

"Under s. 287.81, Wis. Stats. (the Littering statute), there is a 30-day removal timetable for vehicles that are in the waters

of the state. The definition of vehicle, as used in the littering statute, does not include snowmobiles. This section of the

statute requires removal of aircraft also. The statute does not specify that the person responsible has to be the owner,

though this would be the most culpable person. It is possible that the operator of the vehicle, boat or ATV could be the</s>A man reported missing from his cabin at Mabel Lake in the north Okanagan has been found dead.

On Friday, another Mabel Lake cabin owner found the body when he arrived at his property to open it up for the season.

The man has been identified as 57-year-old Bruce Van Hasstrecht, who is a seasonal resident of Mabel Lake.

He was reported missing on Apr. 1, and an extensive search of the area and Mabel Lake was conducted with no success.

The man’s family has been notified.

The matter has been turned over to the BC Coroner’s Service.</s>At least five churchgoers died after an overloaded wooden boat carrying more than 60 passengers back from Easter celebrations capsized on Lake Malawi, police said Monday.

Police spokesman Victor Khamisi told AFP “five people died” in the incident, which took place at around 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Easter Sunday in the northern district of Rumphi.

A total of 54 people had been rescued by Monday in a search assisted by military personnel and local fishermen, police said.

Khamisi said the passengers, members of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) were “coming back from Easter celebrations when the boat met heavy winds and capsized”.

“We don’t know the exact number of people missing but with the help of local and army divers, we have intensified the search,” Khamisi added.

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Five people drowned while eleven are still missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Rumphi District on Lake Malawi.