At least 78 people have died after a boat capsized in eastern Congo, an official said

GOMA, Congo (AP) — At least 78 people died when an overcrowded boat capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo on Thursday, a local governor said. Hours later, a hectic search and rescue operation was underway as many people were still missing from the ship. There were probably 278 people on board.

Jean-Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu province, said the death toll was preliminary and the death toll could rise further. He said local authorities said there were 278 people on board.

The boat left earlier in the day from the port of Minova in South Kivu province and was en route to Goma in North Kivu province, Purusi said by phone.

“We don’t have the full picture of the whole situation yet, but we will have it tomorrow,” he told The Associated Press.

The boat sank as it attempted to dock just meters from Kituku harbor, according to witnesses who saw rescue workers recover at least 50 bodies from the water.

It was the latest fatal boat accident in the Central African country, where overcrowding is often the cause. Shipping regulations are also often not followed.

Congolese officials have often warned against overloading and vowed to punish those who violate water transport safety measures. But in remote areas, where most passengers come from, many cannot afford public transportation on the few roads available.

“We will establish responsibilities and introduce a sanctions regime, but also recommendations to improve shipping on the lake,” Purusi told the AP.

He added that a lack of proper equipment – there were no life jackets on the ship – likely contributed to the tragedy, as did overcrowding and negligence. There was also a strong storm in the lake area in the morning, he added.

In June, an overloaded boat sank near the capital Kinshasa, killing 80 passengers. In January, 22 people died on Lake Maî Ndombe and in April 2023, six people were killed and 64 were missing on Lake Kivu.

Witnesses to Thursday’s tragedy said the boat was visibly overcrowded.

“I was in Kituku port when I saw the boat full of passengers coming from Minova,” Francine Munyi told the AP. “It began to lose balance and sank into the lake. Some people threw themselves into the water.”

“Many died and few were saved,” she added. “I couldn’t help them because I can’t swim.”

Victims’ families and Goma residents gathered at Kituku port, accusing authorities of negligence amid growing insecurity in the area.

As fighting between the armed forces and the M23 rebels left the road between the towns of Goma and Minova impassable and blocked passage for trucks carrying food, many traders have resorted to sea transport on Lake Kivu. It is an alternative that is considered safer than road traffic, which is threatened by insecurity.

But according to Elia Asumani, a shipping agent who works on the line, the situation has become dangerous:

“We’re scared,” he told the AP. “This shipwreck was predictable.”

Bienfait Sematumba, 27, said he lost four family members.

“They’re all dead. I’m alone now,” he said, sobbing. “If the authorities had stopped the war, this shipwreck would never have happened.”

The survivors, about 10, were taken to Kyeshero Hospital for treatment. One of them, Neema Chimanga, said she was still in shock.

“We saw the boat half fill with water,” she told the AP. “The door of the boat opened and we tried to close it. But the water was already coming in and the boat tipped over.”

“I threw myself into the water and started swimming,” she said. “I don’t know how I got out of the water.”

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