TWO have been confirmed dead while five others are missing after a canoe they were travelling in sunk in Nyabarongo river on Thursday night.

Officials in the Southern Province revealed that the passengers were trying to cross from Gakenke District in the Northern Province to Muhanga District in the Southern Province at around 7.pm.

The Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs in Muhanga, François Uhagaze, told this newspaper that the light and small boat was transporting a yet-to-be known number of individuals who were coming from working in mines in Gakenke.

The victims hailed from Kiyumba and Rongi sectors of Muhanga District and had regularly crossed the river after work in mining concessions in the neighbouring Gakenke District, officials have said.

The accident is the most deadly among recent incidents in the area, according to officials who said such incidents are rare.

"Residents travelling in waters and rivers should always wear life jackets,” Uhagaze advised.