TWO people have died while three others are feared dead after their boat capsized while fishing on Mita Hills Dam in Kapiri-Mposhi.

The five were all members of one family comprising the father, mother, their two children and a nephew. Kapiri-Mposhi District Commissioner, Beatrice Sikazwe confirmed the incident yesterday which she said happened on Friday last week.

Ms Sikazwe said the incident happened around 11:00 hours when the dugout canoe the five were using while fishing capsised after it was hit by waves. She identified the victims as Timothy Musengu, 40, his wife Loyce Banda, 27, and their children, Martha and Hanson, who were twins aged four. They are all of Nalyabo Village in Chief Nkole's area.

She named the other victim as Mulele Kabemba, 22, a nephew of Mr Musengu of Chief Mwape in Chilubi District in Northern Province. Ms Sikazwe, who rushed to the scene with a combined team of police and divers from Kapiri- Mposhi District Council Fire Brigade, said only the bodies of the twins had been retrieved from the river.

Police and the divers were still searching for the bodies of the three other victims. "The team is still raking through the river to retrieve the bodies," she said.