Over 20 dead, dozens missing after boat accident in DR Congo

By James Tasamba and Hassan Isilow

KIGALI RWANDA / More than 20 people died after a two-deck boat capsized on Lake Kivu Thursday in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, near Rwanda, local authorities said.

The boat was headed to Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, from Minova in South Kivu province when it capsized in the village of Mukwidja in the territory of Kalehe on Lake Kivu, said Jean-Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu.

“The boat was carrying more than 100 people, even though it has a capacity of around 30 passengers,” Purusi told reporters.

“We do not yet have details on the toll, but we are talking about a few dead and a few survivors,” he said.

A video seen by Anadolu showed the boat painted white and blue moving sideways before capsizing in the lake.

A woman who seems to have recorded the video shared on social media is heard screaming in the Swahili language popular in Eastern Africa, “Yesuu batu banayisha,” meaning (Jesus, people are dying).

According to witnesses, more than 20 bodies were retrieved from the lake, with about 40 survivors.

The exact number of people aboard the ill-fated vessel is not yet clear but could be over 100 as the video shared showed the boat was crowded.

Sources said the boat capsized a few minutes before docking at port Kituku in Goma.

Boat accidents have become frequent in DR Congo where water transport is common due to mostly impassable roads. Such accidents often result in huge death tolls.