Tragic Boat Capsize in Lake Kivu Claims 12 Lives in DRC
A tragic boat accident in Lake Kivu, DRC, results in 12 fatalities and many missing, with rescue operations ongoing.
Kinshasa, September 27 (Daily Kiran) : A devastating boat capsized in Lake Kivu, located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals and leaving many others unaccounted for. The incident occurred late Saturday night into early Sunday morning, shortly after the vessel departed from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
Local media reports, citing initial information, indicate that the boat may have been carrying over 80 passengers at the time of the accident. By Sunday morning, rescue teams had recovered 12 bodies and managed to save five survivors, although a significant number of people remain missing. The cause of the capsizing is still under investigation.
This incident marks the second tragic boating accident in just two days. On Thursday, September 24, a separate incident on Lake Tanganyika resulted in 41 fatalities, while 49 individuals were rescued.
Reports indicate that when the boat overturned near the village of Mapera, it was laden with nearly 100 people and their belongings. In the DRC, where numerous rivers and lakes exist, boat transportation is a vital and economical means of travel for many. However, accidents frequently occur due to aging vessels and overcrowding.
The DRC is among the world’s poorest nations, with over 100 million residents lacking basic amenities. This recent incident on the Kigoma-Kalemi route marks the second boat disaster within a month. According to Radio Okapi, on August 28, an explosion occurred on the Congolese vessel ‘MV Pacific’ while it was refueling at Kigoma port, resulting in the deaths of six crew members and one person reported missing. This vessel operated between Kigoma and Kalemi, primarily transporting fuel.
