Death toll in Nkhata Bay fishermen tragedy rises to 12

Nine more dead bodies of fishermen, who went missing on Lake Malawi in Nkhata Bay last weekend, were found on Wednesday raising the death toll to 12, police have said.

The fishermen went missing following stormy Mwera winds which have been blowing over the lake since Friday.

Nkhata Bay Police spokesperson Martin Bwanali said among the 12 are Phillip Chirwa, 45,  from Thowolo Village; Andrew Jai Banda, 52, from Longwe Village and Meke Chirwa, 28,  from Thuli Village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mankhambira in the district.

Bwanali also identified the other bodies as Agent Chirwa, 37, from Malengasoma Village in the area of T/A Fukamalaza, Manase Chirwa, 42, from Kanyanda Village in the area of T/A Malenga Mzoma, Richard Chirwa and Phillip Banda whose particulars were not yet known.

He said particulars of five bodies could not be immediately established and were buried instantly as they were found in a decomposed state.

Bwanali said a post-mortem indicated that the men died of suffocation after their canoes capsized.

The stormy winds mainly affected Sanga, Chintheche, Kande, Chifira and Kapeska areas.

Police believe many more fishers may still be missing though no one has come to report.

Some fishermen come to fish in the area from distant places. They camp in the area for several months.

“We found eight canoes at Sanga whose owners were missing, but there could be more fishermen who are missing,” Bwanali said.