Officials say that the death toll from a boat accident in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has climbed to 78, with many individuals still unaccounted for.
The boat, which was carrying approximately 278 passengers and travelling from Minova in South Kivu province to Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, capsized in Lake Kivu near the village of Mukwidja on Thursday, as stated by Jean-Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu.
Governor Purusi noted that the provisional death toll stands at 78, and the bodies have been taken to the morgue of the general hospital in Goma, while numerous individuals remain missing. The governor added that the boat was overloaded with passengers and cargo, leading it to sink when it encountered a strong wave.
Marines, teams from the Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders are continuing the search for the missing individuals.
After learning about the accident, President Felix Tshisekedi expressed his condolences to the grieving families and investigated its cause. His office’s statement reported that 58 individuals were rescued.
A video of the incident depicts the boat, painted in white and blue, tilting before capsizing in the lake. A woman who appears to have recorded the video and shared it on social media can be heard screaming in Swahili, “Batu banayisha!” which translates to “People are dying!”
Boat accidents are frequent in the DRC, where water transport is prevalent due to the impassable roads, often resulting in substantial loss of life.