At Least 50 Dead After Boat Capsizes on a Lake in Eastern Congo

At least 50 individuals died this week after a boat capsized on Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, witnesses told the Associated Press (AP).

While the exact number of passengers on board remains unclear, at least 50 bodies were recovered from the water by rescue services. Witnesses reported that 10 survivors were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Witnesses also said the overcrowded boat sank just meters from the dock as it attempted to reach the port of Kituku. The vessel had been traveling from Minova, located in South Kivu province, to Goma in North Kivu province.

Local officials reported that rescue operations were ongoing, though the exact number of casualties remained uncertain. In a similar incident in February, most of the 50 passengers aboard a wooden boat were presumed dead after it capsized on Lake Kivu.

While speaking with a local radio station after the incident, the governor of the province of South Kivu Jean-Jacques Purusi said, “This boat was carrying about a hundred people when it had the capacity for about thirty passengers.”

The tragedy is the latest in a string of deadly boat accidents in the central African nation, where overcrowding is a frequent issue. Lax enforcement of maritime regulations has often been cited as a common factor in these incidents.

Congolese authorities have repeatedly warned against overloading boats and pledged to crack down on those who violate water safety regulations. However, in the country’s remote regions, where most passengers originate, many are left with little choice as they cannot afford public transportation and face limited road access.

In June, 80 passengers lost their lives when an overloaded boat sank near the capital, Kinshasa. In January, 22 people died in a similar incident on Lake Maï-Ndombe, and in April 2023, six were killed and 64 others went missing following a boat accident on Lake Kivu.

While speaking with the AP about Thursday’s incident, Francine Munyi said: “I was at the port of Kituku when I saw the boat arriving from Minova, full of passengers.”

“It started to lose its balance and sank into the lake. Some people threw themselves into the water,” Munyi continued. “Many died, and few were saved…I couldn’t help them because I don’t know how to swim.”

Families of the victims, along with Goma residents, gathered at the port of Kituku, blaming authorities for negligence amid rising insecurity in the region.

With ongoing clashes between the armed forces and M23 rebels rendering the road between Goma and Minova impassable, and blocking truck routes used for transporting food, many traders have turned to Lake Kivu for maritime transport. This alternative is seen as safer than traveling by road, where insecurity remains a constant threat.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.