A devastating boat accident on Lake Kivu, near the port of Kituku in eastern Congo’s North Kivu region, has left at least 78 people dead, with many more feared missing.
The vessel, carrying 278 passengers, capsized approximately 100 meters from the shore, close to Goma. Overcrowding and a lack of life jackets are being blamed for the high death toll.
The tragedy unfolded as the boat, clearly overloaded, began listing to one side before eventually capsizing in what witnesses described as calm waters. Several videos posted on social media showed the vessel struggling to stay upright, and slowly turning over, sending passengers into the lake.
Rescue operations are still ongoing. So far, about 50 survivors have been pulled from the water, but many passengers remain unaccounted for.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), through its Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), reported on social media that they worked with DRC security forces to save at least 40 passengers from the sinking boat.
The incident is one of many tragic accidents in the region, where maritime safety regulations are frequently ignored, and overcrowding is a recurring issue on passenger boats.
The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between the DRC government and the M23 rebel group, which has led many people to flee their homes and attempt risky journeys across Lake Kivu to avoid dangerous overland travel.
The M23 rebellion has been active since 2021, with the DRC government accusing Rwanda of backing the group, a charge that Kigali has consistently denied.
Lake and river shipwrecks are an all-too-common occurrence in the central African country, where safety measures are often disregarded, and the enforcement of maritime laws is lax. In the wake of this latest tragedy, there are growing calls for improved regulations to ensure that such disasters are prevented in the future.
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