At Goma port, citizen watch rescue efforts
At least 78 people died when an overcrowded boat with 278 passengers from Bukavu, Southern Kivu capsized on Lake Kivu near Goma, the Northen Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Associated Press quoted Jean-Jacques Purusi, governor of the South Kivu province saying that the death toll was provisional, and the number of fatalities could rise.
Screenshot of an amateur video showing the boat capsizing
Reports from Kinshasa based riverband.com website indicate that earlier in the day, witnesses said they saw rescue services recover at least 50 bodies from the water. Ten lucky passengers were rescued and hurried to the nearby health facility.
The accident, blamed on overloading and probably among the deadliest is one in a series that happened since a couple of months now.
Rescue efforts
In June, another boat capsised in capital Kinshasa, causing 80 fatalities in June this year, while in January, 22 people also died on lake Mai Ndombe. In April 2023, six other people died following a boat accident.
It is alleged that the overloading of boats which has become a source of fatalities follows insecurity in Eastern DRC where the country is in war against M23, which resulted in closure of some roads.
“Traders resorted to maritime road,” writes Associated Press.
RDC, Goma: A ferry capsizes with so many people on board
Mana tabara hagire benshi barokoka. Utanze video aravuga ko ho hantu ari ku gice cyegera Goma. pic.twitter.com/uKyo2wUCEf
— Oswald Oswakim (@oswaki) October 3, 2024
