Overfull Boat Capsizes in Lake Kivu, Leaving 78 Dead in Congo \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ At least 78 people died when an overcrowded boat capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo, with the death toll expected to rise. The boat, carrying 278 passengers, sank near the port of Kituku. Survivors and witnesses described the chaotic moments as passengers tried to escape, blaming authorities for negligence amid rising regional insecurity.
Lake Kivu Boat Sinking: Quick Looks
- 78 People Confirmed Dead: A boat with 278 passengers capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo, resulting in at least 78 fatalities. The death toll could rise as search efforts continue.
- Overcrowding and Safety Issues: The overcrowded boat sank just meters from Kituku port. Overcrowding is a frequent cause of maritime tragedies in Congo, where regulations are often ignored.
- Witness Accounts: Survivors recounted the horror of the accident, blaming regional instability and poor regulation for the tragedy. Local residents and families gathered at the port, demanding accountability.
Deep Look
In a tragic accident on Thursday, an overcrowded boat carrying 278 passengers capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo, leading to at least 78 deaths. South Kivu province governor Jean-Jacques Purusi confirmed the provisional death toll, noting that the number of fatalities could rise as the search continues for missing passengers. He spoke to The Associated Press hours after the incident, expressing concern over the scale of the disaster.
The boat was en route from Minova in South Kivu province to Goma in North Kivu province when it encountered trouble. According to witnesses, it was attempting to dock just meters from the port of Kituku when it began to capsize. The overcrowding, combined with the chaotic conditions, proved to be catastrophic. Witnesses recounted seeing at least 50 bodies recovered from the water earlier in the day, and said they watched as rescue teams worked frantically to recover more victims. Ten people survived and were initially taken to a local hospital, although updated reports indicated that as many as 50 individuals were ultimately rescued.
Thursday’s tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly boat accidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country where overcrowded vessels and poor enforcement of maritime regulations have resulted in repeated disasters. Congolese officials have frequently warned against the dangers of overloading boats and have vowed to crack down on those who violate water safety regulations. However, many residents in remote areas face limited transportation options and cannot afford the cost of public transport on the few passable roads. As a result, boats on Congo’s many lakes become dangerously crowded, contributing to frequent maritime disasters.
Earlier this year, a boat sank near the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, claiming 80 lives, while other incidents have also highlighted the dangers of water transportation in the region. In January, a capsizing incident on Lake Maï-Ndombe killed 22 people, and in April 2023, six people died while 64 went missing after another accident on Lake Kivu. Overcrowding was again cited as a factor in all of these incidents.
Witnesses of Thursday’s tragedy at Lake Kivu emphasized how visibly overcrowded the boat was before it sank. “I was at the port of Kituku when I saw the boat arriving from Minova, full of passengers,” said Francine Munyi, a local resident who spoke to the AP. She described how the boat began to lose its balance, eventually tipping into the lake. “It started to lose its balance and sank into the lake. Some people threw themselves into the water,” she said. Munyi added with sadness, “Many died, and few were saved. I couldn’t help them because I don’t know how to swim.”
The sinking has left a profound impact on the families of the victims and the wider community. Many relatives gathered at the port of Kituku, accusing authorities of negligence and expressing their anger over the growing insecurity in the region. Due to the fighting between government forces and M23 rebels, the road between Goma and Minova has become impassable, forcing the closure of routes typically used by trucks transporting food and supplies. This ongoing conflict has pushed traders and residents to rely on maritime transport on Lake Kivu as an alternative, a method considered safer than navigating the unsafe roads but now also proving perilous.
Elia Asumani, a shipping agent who works the Lake Kivu line, acknowledged the risks associated with this increased reliance on lake transportation. “We are afraid,” Asumani said. “This shipwreck was predictable.” His remarks reflect the concerns of many who see these accidents as the tragic consequence of unregulated and overloaded transport combined with an overall lack of safe options.
The impact of this disaster is painfully personal for people like Bienfait Sematumba, a 27-year-old who lost four family members in the sinking. “They are all dead. I am alone now,” he said, visibly sobbing as he shared his grief. “If the authorities had ended the war, this shipwreck would never have happened,” he added, blaming the ongoing conflict for the tragic loss of his loved ones.
Survivors, such as Neema Chimanga, who managed to make it out alive, recounted their harrowing escape from the sinking boat. Chimanga was taken to Kyeshero Hospital along with other survivors. She described her desperate attempts to stay afloat. “We saw the boat start to fill with water halfway,” she said. “The door of the boat opened, and we tried to close it. But the water was already coming in, and the boat tilted.” She recalled throwing herself into the water and trying to swim. “I threw myself into the water and started swimming,” she explained, adding, “I don’t know how I got out of the water.” Her survival is a testament to her resilience, but she remains shaken from the ordeal.
The community’s sorrow has been further compounded by frustration and a sense of abandonment. Many of those waiting at the port demanded answers and pointed fingers at government officials for their inaction regarding safety regulations. The lack of effective governance and proper enforcement of maritime laws in Congo has repeatedly contributed to avoidable tragedies, and the sinking of the overcrowded boat on Lake Kivu is yet another stark reminder of the need for regulatory reform and enhanced safety measures.
Since the outbreak of renewed fighting between armed forces and M23 rebels, the safety situation in the region has deteriorated significantly. With land routes between Minova and Goma rendered too dangerous or impassable, Lake Kivu has become the primary transportation route for people and goods. However, this shift has placed enormous pressure on the lake’s boats, which are often inadequately maintained and overfilled far beyond their safe capacity. The resulting disasters have underscored the urgent need for action by authorities to address both the immediate transport challenges and the broader security situation that drives people to take these risks.
The boat that sank on Thursday was among several that local traders have been using to move between South and North Kivu, taking advantage of the water route to bypass the hazards posed by rebel activity on land. While many had come to see Lake Kivu as a safer option compared to the roads, the overcrowding and lack of enforcement of safety measures have made these journeys incredibly dangerous.
Efforts to rescue more passengers continued throughout the day and into the night, but hope is waning for finding more survivors. Rescue workers are faced with significant challenges, including a lack of proper equipment and the remoteness of the location. As darkness fell, local residents and authorities gathered near the lake, some still clinging to the hope of a miracle while others mourned their losses.
The survivors, many of whom are still in shock, are being treated for injuries at local hospitals. Meanwhile, family members of the missing and deceased have begun the painful process of identifying bodies and organizing funerals. For the people of South and North Kivu, the tragedy of this boat sinking is a harsh reminder of the precariousness of life in a region plagued by conflict, poverty, and a lack of infrastructure.
The sinking of the boat on Lake Kivu once again highlights the urgent need for greater regulation and enforcement in Congo’s transportation systems. The government must take steps to prevent such tragedies from repeating, whether through more stringent enforcement of passenger limits on boats or by providing safer transportation alternatives for those living in conflict-prone areas. The voices of the survivors, the grieving families, and the community members all point to a desire for action—action to prevent further loss of life and to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.
As search efforts continue, the nation mourns, and the survivors try to piece together their lives. The aftermath of the Lake Kivu boat disaster is a powerful reminder of the need for systemic change—both in enforcing maritime safety regulations and in addressing the underlying conflicts that force people to take deadly risks for basic transportation.
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