12 Killed In Tragic Boat Capsizing In Democratic Republic Of Congo, Making It 2nd Sinking In A Week

A second boat sinking within a week has claimed the lives of 12 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The tragedy occurred late Saturday night when a boat carrying cargo and fish traders sank in Lake Kivu.

Felix Habiragi, the Kisheki village head, said that the boat was carrying more than 50 people when it capsized near Idjwi Island in South Kivu.

Search and rescue remains ongoing and has led to the evacuation of 15 people so far; however, dozens are still missing. However, investigators have suggested that the boat was carrying around 80 people.

The boat regularly sailed between Boza and Bwina, both on Idjwi Island. Such incidents are common in Congo, which is one of the poorest countries in the world, lacking basic infrastructure for its 100 million inhabitants.

People use boats offering cheap fares to travel across the country. Such boats often overload both cargo and passengers, and given the lack of lifeboats or lifejackets, the journey becomes quite dangerous.

This accident occurred less than a week before another boat sank on Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing around 41 individuals.

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