At least 12 dead and dozens missing after a vessel capsized in eastern Congo’s Lake Kivu

BUKAVU, Congo - A capsized vessel carrying traders in Lake Kivu, eastern Congo, resulted in at least 12 deaths and left dozens missing, according to authorities on Sunday. The boat, carrying over 50 people, capsized on Saturday night on Idjwi Island, located in South Kivu province. Félix Habiragi, chief of the village of Kisheke near the accident scene, reported that approximately 15 people have been rescued. The cause of the accident remains unclear.

Vessels on Congo's rivers and lakes frequently transport goods and people, as they are vital forms of transportation for over 100 million inhabitants. The vessel in question was transporting fish traders and goods from Idjwi Island's Bwina to Boza, as per Muhindo Ntambuka Pascal, the local administrator. Videos from the scene depict villagers and passengers pulling bodies from the lake.

Christian Amini Ndahira, a resident of Ijwi, expressed his grief over losing a friend aboard the boat, stating, "We had even spoken in the evening, before he boarded that boat. It’s so sad for me and for his family."

Congo's vessels often carry excessive weight, both in goods and passengers, with many individuals frequently traveling without life jackets. Dorcelle Bagazane, a member of civil society in Idjwi, noted, "The authorities had, in particular, begun requiring passengers to wear life jackets. Today, however, many people continue to travel without them."