At least 78 drown in boat capsizing in Democratic Republic of Congo

A horrific maritime disaster unfolded on October 3 in Lake Kivu, where a boat carrying 278 passengers capsized, resulting in at least 78 confirmed drownings, according to South Kivu provincial governor Jean Jacques Purisi.

The vessel overturned approximately 700 meters from the port, with eyewitness accounts and video footage showing the packed multi-deck boat listing dangerously in calm waters before it ultimately capsized, tossing passengers into the lake, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Grief-stricken relatives gathered on the shore, sobbing as emergency responders placed victims into body bags. A witness reported the chaotic scene, but the footage of the incident remains unverified.

The situation remains uncertain, with regional officials providing conflicting death tolls. While Governor Purisi confirmed the 78 fatalities, the governor of neighbouring North Kivu province reported 28 confirmed dead and 58 survivors of the tragedy. “It'll take at least three days to get the exact numbers because not all the bodies have been found yet,” Purisi stated.

The causes of the accident are currently under investigation. Deadly boat incidents are unfortunately common in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where vessels often operate well beyond their capacity limits.

At a local hospital, survivor Alfani Buroko Byamungu, 51, described the calm conditions before the boat capsized. “I saw people sinking; many went under. I saw women and children sinking in the water, and I myself was on the verge of drowning, but God helped me,” he recounted from his hospital bed.

As the news spread, crowds gathered at the port in Goma, where the ill-fated vessel was scheduled to dock. Mourners expressed their sorrow and anger, blaming the authorities for the overcrowding of boats, which they attribute to a long-running rebel conflict that has hindered road access. “All of this is part of the consequences of the war... They no longer make an effort to clear the enemies off the road so that it can become operational again,” lamented Mushagulua Bienfait, a Goma resident who lost three relatives in the incident.

Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, and local authorities are expected to continue their efforts to ascertain the final death toll in the coming days.