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| Uganda Lake Albert boat disaster: 107 bodies found | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Rescue workers in Uganda have so far recovered 107 bodies, including those of 57 children, after a boat capsized on Saturday on Lake Albert, a government minister has said. | Rescue workers in Uganda have so far recovered 107 bodies, including those of 57 children, after a boat capsized on Saturday on Lake Albert, a government minister has said. |
| The boat was taking refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo back to their home country when it capsized. | The boat was taking refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo back to their home country when it capsized. |
| It had a capacity to carry only 80 passengers, but up to 250 people were on board, officials said. | It had a capacity to carry only 80 passengers, but up to 250 people were on board, officials said. |
| Boat accidents are common in Uganda because of poor safety standards. | Boat accidents are common in Uganda because of poor safety standards. |
| Boats are often overloaded and do not carry life jackets. | Boats are often overloaded and do not carry life jackets. |
| 'Deeply shocked' | 'Deeply shocked' |
| Uganda's Refugees Minister Hillary Onek said the police, the military's marine units and civilian fishing boats were all involved in rescue operations. | Uganda's Refugees Minister Hillary Onek said the police, the military's marine units and civilian fishing boats were all involved in rescue operations. |
| The 107 bodies recovered so far included 57 children, he said. | The 107 bodies recovered so far included 57 children, he said. |
| "The exact number of passengers on board has yet to be established," Mr Onek added. | "The exact number of passengers on board has yet to be established," Mr Onek added. |
| On Monday, the UN high commissioner for refugees Antonio Guterres said he was deeply shocked by the disaster. | On Monday, the UN high commissioner for refugees Antonio Guterres said he was deeply shocked by the disaster. |
| "My thoughts are with those who have lost dear ones, and the survivors," he said in a statement. | "My thoughts are with those who have lost dear ones, and the survivors," he said in a statement. |
| "I am grateful to the government and other actors who have mounted a rescue-and-recovery operation and are assisting the survivors.'' | "I am grateful to the government and other actors who have mounted a rescue-and-recovery operation and are assisting the survivors.'' |
| The boat was one of two which left on Saturday from Uganda's Hoima district on the eastern side of the lake, which lies on the border with DR Congo. | The boat was one of two which left on Saturday from Uganda's Hoima district on the eastern side of the lake, which lies on the border with DR Congo. |
| The boats were carrying refugees who had been living at a camp in Uganda, and had decided to return to eastern DR Congo of their own accord, the UNHCR said. | The boats were carrying refugees who had been living at a camp in Uganda, and had decided to return to eastern DR Congo of their own accord, the UNHCR said. |