A boat carrying scores of passengers capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo on Thursday, killing at least 50 people, according to eyewitness accounts.
The vessel, reportedly overloaded, sank while attempting to dock just meters from the port of Kituku, witnesses told The Associated Press. They reported seeing rescue services recover at least 50 bodies from the water.
“The boat was clearly overcrowded,” said Jean-Paul Munyandamutsa, a local fisherman who witnessed the accident. “It started to tilt dangerously as it approached the dock.”
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of passengers on board or the final death toll. Witnesses said about 10 people survived and were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
This incident marks the latest in a series of deadly boat accidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where overcrowding is often cited as a primary cause. In a similar tragedy this summer, an overloaded boat sank near the capital, Kinshasa, resulting in 80 fatalities.
Congo’s vast waterways serve as crucial transportation routes in a country with limited road infrastructure. However, lax safety standards and overloading continue to pose significant risks to passengers.
“These tragedies are sadly becoming all too common,” said Marie Ndjeka, a spokesperson for a local maritime safety advocacy group. “We urgently need stricter enforcement of passenger limits and improved safety measures.”
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. As rescue efforts continue, local officials are calling for increased vigilance and adherence to maritime safety regulations to prevent future disasters.
