In a tragic incident on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo, a boat disaster claimed at least 50 lives, witnesses reported to the AP. The vessel, said to be carrying significantly more people than its stated capacity, overturned just meters from the Kituku port while traveling from Minova to Goma. Rescue teams are continuing their operations, but the exact number of casualties remains uncertain. Ten individuals survived the tragedy and are receiving care at a local hospital.
South Kivu province governor Jean-Jacques Purusi informed local media that the boat was intended for 30 passengers but approximately 100 boarded. Overcrowded vessels have frequently led to similar catastrophes in the region, with this incident echoing last summer's sinking near Kinshasa that led to 80 fatalities. Eyewitness accounts described the boat as visibly overfilled.
Goma residents, deeply shaken, gathered at Kituku port, directing blame towards authorities for negligence amidst escalating regional insecurity. As road travel between Goma and Minova becomes increasingly perilous due to conflicts involving M23 rebels, many traders have turned to using Lake Kivu for transportation. This shift has intensified maritime travel risks, with shipping agent Elia Asumani remarking on the "predictable" nature of the shipwreck. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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