According to a local governor, an overcrowded boat on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo on Thursday caused the deaths of at least 78 individuals. Hours later, a hectic search and rescue effort was in progress because a large number of the ship’s 278 passengers were missing.
The South Kivu province’s governor, Jean-Jacques Purusi, stated that the death toll was preliminary and that there could be more deaths. He stated there were 278 individuals on board based on the information the local authorities received.
Speaking over the phone, Purusi stated that the boat had departed earlier in the day from the port of Minova in the province of South Kivu and was headed to Goma in the province of North Kivu.
“We don’t yet have the full picture of the whole situation, but we will have it by tomorrow,” he told The Associated Press.
Only a few yards (meters) from the port of Kituku, the boat sank while attempting to dock, and witnesses reported seeing rescue workers pull at least fifty bodies out of the water.
It was the most recent fatal boat catastrophe in the nation of central Africa, where crowded boats are frequently the cause. Maritime regulations also are often not followed.
Congolese authorities have frequently issued advisories against overloading and promised to prosecute anyone who disobeys safety regulations when using water transportation. However, many of the passengers in the most rural areas—where there aren’t many roads—cannot afford public transportation.
Purusi told the AP, “We will assign responsibilities, implement a sanctions regime, and make recommendations to improve navigation on the lake.”
The tragic incident in Lake Kivu, Goma, was caused by a lack of adequate equipment, overcrowding, and negligence. The boat was visibly overcrowded, and witnesses reported that it lost its balance and sank into the lake. Many died, and few were saved due to the lack of swimming skills of the passengers. The victims’ families and Goma residents gathered at the port of Kituku, accusing authorities of negligence in the face of growing insecurity in the region.
Since the fighting between the armed forces and the M23 rebels made the road between Goma and Minova impassable, many traders have resorted to maritime transport on Lake Kivu as an alternative to road traffic. However, shipping agent Elia Asumani believes the situation has become dangerous, and the shipwreck was predictable.
Bienfait Sematumba, 27, lost four family members and is now alone. He believes that if the authorities had ended the war, the shipwreck would never have happened. About 10 survivors were taken to Kyeshero hospital for treatment, and one survivor, Neema Chimanga, was still in shock. She recounted how the boat started to fill with water halfway and tilted, and how she threw herself into the water and started swimming.
(AP)
