Beni ( Democratic Republic of Congo - (AFP) - Two people have been killed and ten others are missing after a boat sank in Lake Edward in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to local sources.

The motor boat capsized at around 5 am (0300 GMT), with about 20 singers from a church choir on board, heading from the village of Kyavinyong in North Kivu province to the village of Kisaka in the same area, according to eyewitnesses told AFP.

"We pulled out five people alive and two dead bodies from the water. The rest are at the bottom of the lake. The boat capsized while it was in the lake, about 10 kilometers from Kiavenong," said Patrick Kambale, the government official in charge of the lake.

He explained that when the boat sailed, there were 16 people on board, but nine other passengers boarded later during the trip.

The official confirmed that the accident was caused by "strong winds".

In turn, Rev. Baluku Kafutoiraki, head of the Protestant church to which the singers belong, said that the boat was carrying a total of 24 people, including three children.

He added, "Our search will continue until Sunday," noting that the two bodies that were recovered were buried on Friday.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a vast country with an area of 2.3 million square kilometers, but it lacks usable land roads, which often drives residents to move through water bodies from lakes and rivers.

Drowning accidents are frequent and often have a large toll.