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At least 36 dead in Togo after gusts tip boats

Mon May 9, 2011 10:38am GMT
 

LOME May 9 (Reuters) - At least 36 people died when gusts of wind caused several boats to capsize on a lake in southeastern Togo, a witness and a local chief said.

The passengers were returning from a funeral on the other side of Lake Togo when the accident took place late on Sunday.

Poor roads and railways force many in Africa to use the continent's lakes and rivers for transport, but accidents are common, frequently due to over-loading and poor maintenance.

(Reporting by John Zodzi; writing by David Lewis)

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