Rescue teams have recovered approximately 20 bodies after a boat carrying passengers and merchandise sank on Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday, according to local security and harbour officials.
The boat, which departed from Minova in South Kivu province, capsized in the late morning, just 100 metres from its destination at Goma, the capital of North Kivu.
A harbour official confirmed that at least 18 bodies had been recovered, adding that rescue efforts were ongoing, with the deceased being transported to various morgues.
Authorities have not specified how many passengers were aboard the boat. However, two children who were rescued were rushed to hospital but tragically passed away before receiving treatment, according to a medical source.
Boat travel across the northern tip of Lake Kivu has increasingly become a preferred route to Goma, as the region’s overland roads are plagued by violence, particularly due to ongoing clashes between Congolese government forces and the rebel M23 militia.
The M23, a predominantly Tutsi group backed by Rwanda, launched an offensive in late 2021, seizing significant territory in eastern DRC, a region rich in minerals but mired in rebel violence and conflict for decades.
Deadly accidents on the DRC’s lakes and rivers are frequent, often caused by overcrowded and poorly maintained vessels. The lack of proper passenger records further complicates rescue operations when disasters occur.