At least 78 people have tragically lost their lives after a ferry capsized on Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, mere meters from reaching its destination.
The ill-fated vessel was en route from Minova in South Kivu and sank as it approached the shores of Goma on Thursday morning. Eyewitness accounts and videos have emerged, displaying the boat tilting dangerously before succumbing to the waters.
According to regional authorities, there were 278 passengers on board at the time of the incident. Governor Jean Jacques Purisi stated, “It will take at least three days to determine the exact numbers of casualties, as not all the bodies have been recovered.”
Local activist Aaron Ashuza, present during the rescue operations, reported witnessing the retrieval of bodies from the lake, while injured survivors were rushed to local hospitals. Reports indicate that at least two children succumbed to their injuries following the incident.
Survivor Alfani Buroko Byamungu, currently hospitalized, recounted experiencing calm waters prior to the disaster. “I saw people sinking; many went under. I witnessed women and children struggling, and I, too, was on the brink of drowning,” he shared.
Bahati Selemani, a dock worker involved in the rescue efforts, described the scene: “We observed the boat beginning to capsize. It was heavily overloaded amidst strong waves, causing the vessel to gradually tilt. Those in the upper sections tried to escape by jumping into the lake as it finally capsized.”
Such maritime disasters have become alarmingly common in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where overcrowded boats operate without proper safety measures, such as life jackets, and where many passengers lack swimming skills. Rescue efforts are often hampered due to the absence of passenger manifests.
