DRC: At least 78 confirmed dead as boat capsizes in Lake Kivu

Goma, 

Friday, 4 October, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

At least 78 people drowned following a tragic incident where a boat carrying 278 passengers capsized in Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday.

Confirming the incident, area Governor Jean Jacques Purisi said that more bodies could be retrieved in the coming days. 

"It'll take at least three days to get the exact numbers, because not all the bodies have been found yet," Governor Jean. 

A video footage recording the tragic incident was circulating online with a person believed to be recording the video saying "People are dying God. Many people, many people." The unidentified man said. 

In the video, the packed-to-capacity white boat was seen flipping into the water sideways before completely submerging. 

The boat which sailed from Minova capsized around 700 metres from port of Goma while the causes of the accident are being investigated.

The governor of the neighbouring North Kivu province said at least 58 people had been rescued.

An increasing number of people have opted to cross the northern tip of Lake Kivu by boat to reach Goma in often overcrowded vessels to avoid land travel in an area prone to fighting between Congolese government forces and M23 rebels.

A sad and angry crowd gathered at the shores of the Port blamed the authorities for failure to contain the long-running rebel conflict which had cut off roads connection North Kivu from South Kivu making water travel the safest alternative. 

"All of this is part of the consequences of the war ... They no longer make an effort to clear the enemies off the road so that it can become operational again," shouted Mushagulua Bienfait, a Goma resident who lost three relatives in the accident. 

At a local hospital, one survivor said conditions were calm when the crowded boat overturned. As others drowned around him, he struggled to stay afloat until he was rescued by Congolese troops.

"I saw people sinking, many went under. I saw women and children sinking in the water, and I myself was on the verge of drowning, but God helped me," said Alfani Buroko Byamungu.