At least 78 people have drowned after a boat carrying 278 passengers capsized in Lake Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on Thursday. The tragedy occurred around 700 meters from the port, according to regional authorities, who are still investigating the cause of the accident.
Survivors and witnesses described the devastating scene as the multi-deck vessel, overcrowded with passengers, tilted sideways in calm waters before overturning. Video footage shared online shows passengers frantically trying to stay afloat as the boat went under.
Governor Jean Jacques Purisi of South Kivu province confirmed the death toll at 78 and said the full extent of the disaster would only be clear after a three-day recovery operation, as many bodies were still missing. He added that the total number of passengers onboard was 278. In contrast, the governor of neighboring North Kivu province reported that 28 people were confirmed dead and 58 had survived the ordeal.
Boat accidents are tragically common in the DRC, where vessels are often overloaded and safety standards poorly enforced. Survivors of the accident recounted the terrifying moments when the boat capsized. Alfani Buroko Byamungu, a 51-year-old survivor, described the scene from his hospital bed. “I saw people sinking, many went under. I saw women and children drowning. I was close to drowning myself, but God helped me.”
At the port in Goma, the boat’s intended destination, distraught relatives wept as bodies were carried ashore in body bags. Others expressed anger at the government for failing to restore roads cut off by ongoing rebel conflict, which has forced more people to rely on overcrowded boats for travel.
Mushagulua Bienfait, a resident of Goma who lost three relatives in the tragedy, blamed the war for the lack of safe transportation. “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.”
Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities work to recover more bodies and investigate the cause of the disaster.
