On Thursday, a boat carrying 278 passengers overturned on Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 78 people, the provincial governor reported. An inquiry into the causes of the disaster is ongoing, as is the search for survivors of the boat accident, which happened roughly 700 meters from the harbor.
On the coast, grieving relatives of the victims could be seen while the bodies were being collected and put in body bags. The scene was emotional, as reported by Reuters, as the overloaded vessel was seen drifting sideways and eventually overturning in calm waters in video footage that went viral online. The video could not be immediately verified by Reuters.
The exact number of missing passengers remains unclear, as officials provided varying death tolls. South Kivu Governor Jean Jacques Purisi reported 78 dead and 278 on board but cautioned that, "It'll take at least three days to get the exact numbers because not all the bodies have been found yet." Meanwhile, North Kivu Governor mentioned that 58 people survived, and 28 deaths had been confirmed.
The boat was overcrowded, which is a regular problem in Congolese waterways where overloaded boats frequently result in fatal accidents. Although the exact circumstances of this tragedy are still being looked into, overloading is thought to have had a role.
From a hospital bed, one survivor, Alfani Buroko Byamungu, related his terrifying ordeal. "I saw many people drowning. The 51-year-old recounted, "I was about to drown, but God saved me. I watched people and children sinking in the river." After fighting to stay afloat, he was saved by Congolese troops.
Crowds of people gathered at the port in Goma, where the boat was supposed to dock; many of them were mourning the loss of loved ones. While some sobbed aloud, others expressed fury, holding the authorities accountable for the terrible fallout from the ongoing rebel conflict that has cut off road access in the area.
One resident of Goma, Mushagulua Bienfait, who lost three relatives in the accident, voiced his frustration. "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," he shouted, blaming the conflict for increased reliance on overcrowded boats.
Inadequate enforcement of safety standards and challenging conditions resulting from the ongoing conflict in the nation are frequently cited as contributing factors to boat accidents in Congo. Authorities are attempting to retrieve additional bodies and ascertain the complete scope of the disaster while search and rescue activities are ongoing.
Officials warn that while rescue efforts continue, it might take several days to determine the exact death toll because a large number of bodies are still missing. The incident has rekindled anger about how the fighting has affected local security and infrastructure. (Reuters)
