DRC: at least 3 dead and dozens missing in a shipwreck on Lake Kivu

2024-01-27T19:37:48.798Z

Highlights: DRC: at least 3 dead and dozens missing in a shipwreck on Lake Kivu. At least 3, several dozen missing and 10 survivors. Boat left Bukavu for Idjwi North, with around fifty people on board, including small traders and their goods. A strong wave would be the cause of the sinking, according to maritime sources. Local civil society denounces the overloading of the vehicle which transported more than 90 bags of cement, hundreds of lockers of beer, a hundred bags of flour.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the province of South Kivu is still in shock after the sinking of a wooden motorized boat on Friday January 26 on Lake Kivu. At least 3…

DRC: at least 3 dead and dozens missing in a shipwreck on Lake Kivu

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the province of South Kivu is still in shock after the sinking of a wooden motorized boat on Friday January 26 on Lake Kivu. At least 3 dead, several dozen missing and 10 survivors.

View of Bukavu, capital of the province of South Kivu, in eastern DRC (illustrative image). Marine Gauthier / EyeEm

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Bukavu,

William Basimike

The tragedy happened Friday evening the 26th in Bugarula in the island territory of Idjwi. The boat left Bukavu for Idjwi North, with around fifty people on board, including small traders and their goods.

“

A strong wave would be the cause of the sinking

”, according to maritime sources, but the local civil society of Idjwi denounces the overloading of the vehicle which, according to it, transported more than 90 bags of cement, hundreds of lockers of beer, a hundred bags of flour and other goods.

“

We need an investigation to establish responsibilities

,” said Dorcelle Bahagaze, president of local civil society in Mugote. She suspects maritime services which often do not control the exact number of passengers registered on the travel document.

This Saturday, families of the missing gathered at the edge of Lake Kivu as searches continue on the lake to try to find either bodies or perhaps survivors, but as the hours pass, the chances of finding survivors are diminishing.

Read alsoDRC: more than 100 missing in a shipwreck in Basankusu, in the province of Équateur

DRC: at least 3 dead and dozens missing in a shipwreck on Lake Kivu

DRC: at least 3 dead and dozens missing in a shipwreck on Lake Kivu

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