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At least 78 people have died after a ferry capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, just a few hundred meters from its destination.
The boat, carrying 278 passengers, was traveling from Minova in South Kivu and sank near Goma’s shore on Thursday morning. A video circulating online shows the ferry tilting before disappearing beneath the water.
“It’ll take at least three days to get exact numbers because not all bodies have been recovered,” said Governor Jean Jacques Purisi, said.
Local activist Aaron Ashuza, who was at the scene, said he saw bodies being pulled from the lake, and confirmed that injured survivors had been taken to the hospital. AFP reported that at least two children died shortly after being admitted.
One survivor, 51-year-old Alfani Buroko Byamungu, recounted his ordeal from his hospital bed, saying conditions on the water had seemed calm. “I saw people sinking—women and children going under. I was on the verge of drowning myself, but God saved me,” he said.
Bahati Selemani, a dock worker who helped with the rescue efforts, described the tragic scene. “We saw the boat start to capsize. It was clearly overloaded, and there were strong waves. Those on the upper deck began throwing themselves into the lake as the boat sank.”
Ferry accidents are common in DR Congo, where overcrowded boats often operate without safety measures like life jackets. Rescue operations are further complicated by the lack of passenger manifests, making it difficult to know how many people are on board.
