At least 78 people die as overloaded boat sinks in Congo

Photo: Moses Sawasawa Associated Press People gather at the port of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

Ruth Alonga – Associated Press and Jean-Yves Kamale – Associated Press In Coma

Published at 17:27

• Africa

At least 78 people died when an overloaded boat with 278 passengers on board sank on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo on Thursday, a local governor said.

The death toll is provisional and the number of fatalities could rise, according to Jean-Jacques Purusi, governor of South Kivu province. He spoke to The Associated Press by telephone hours after the tragedy.

The boat, overloaded with passengers, sank as it tried to dock just yards from the port of Kituku, witnesses said. It was traveling from Minova in South Kivu province to Goma in North Kivu province.

Earlier in the day, witnesses said 10 people survived and were taken to a local hospital. Local authorities later reported that up to 50 people had been rescued. Search and rescue efforts continued Thursday.

It is the latest fatal boat accident in the central African country, where overcrowding on ships is often to blame. Maritime regulations are also often not respected.

Congolese authorities have often warned against overloading and vowed to punish those who violate maritime safety measures. But in the remote areas where most of the passengers come from, many cannot afford public transportation because of the few roads available.

Last June, an overloaded boat sank near the capital, Kinshasa, and 80 passengers lost their lives. In January, 22 people died on Lake Mai-Ndombe, and in April 2023, six were killed and 64 went missing on the same Lake Kivu.

Witnesses to Thursday’s tragedy said the boat was visibly overloaded.

Families of the victims and residents of Goma gathered at the Kituku port in Goma, accusing authorities of negligence in the face of growing insecurity in the region.

Since fighting between the armed forces and M23 rebels made the road between the cities of Goma and Minova impassable, forcing the closure of passage to trucks carrying food, many traders have resorted to maritime transport on Lake Kivu. This latter solution is considered safer than road traffic, which is threatened by insecurity.

But Elia Asumani, a shipping agent who works on the line, said the situation has become dangerous. “We are afraid,” he told the AP. “This shipwreck was predictable.” Bienfait Sematumba, 27, said he lost four members of his family in the sinking. “They are all dead. I am alone now,” he said, sobbing. “If the authorities had stopped the war, this shipwreck would never have happened.”