8 Burundian fishermen die in stormy Lake Tanganyika

At least eight fishermen drowned while fishing in Lake Tanganyika in a storm on Sunday night, Burundi’s fishermen federation told Xinhua on Monday.

The fishermen operating at different ports died after drowning in Lake Tanganyika, said Gabriel Butoyi, chairman of the federation of fishermen and fish producers in Burundi.

Several boats and other fishing equipment were damaged during the storm, said Butoyi.

“The drowning was caused by a violent wind that capsized fishermen’s boats in the lake. The fishermen had gone too far from the lake shores and it was hard for them to swim up to the shores,” said the chairman.

The death toll might increase as the exact number of fishermen who were in the lake during the storm was unknown, he said.

 According to him, by 11 a.m. Monday, boats had been sent into the lake in a rescue operation.

Lake Tanganyika is the world’s second deepest lake with over 350 species of fish. (Xinhua)