At least 78 people have died after a ferry capsized on Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, just a short distance from its destination.
The boat was then route from the town of Minova in South Kivu and sank as it approached the shore of Goma on Thursday morning.
A video circulating online captured the moment the boat tilted to one side before sinking. There were 278 passengers on board at the time of the incident, as reported by a regional governor. The exact number of casualties may take several days to determine, as not all bodies have been recovered.
Rescue efforts have been complicated by the fact that many boats in the region are often overcrowded, and passengers typically do not have access to safety jackets. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of passenger manifests, making it difficult to account for everyone on board.
Local reports indicate that at least two children died after being taken to the hospital following the accident. Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene, with individuals struggling in the water as the boat capsized. Such tragic incidents are unfortunately common in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where safety regulations are frequently overlooked….@BBC