Tragedy on Lake Kivu: Overloaded Boat Capsizes, Claims 50 Lives

A tragic boat accident on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo resulted in at least 50 fatalities. The overloaded vessel sank while attempting to dock near Kituku port. Witnesses reported seeing 50 bodies recovered and 10 survivors taken to a hospital. Overcrowding is a frequent cause of such incidents in Congo.

A devastating incident occurred on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo as a passenger-laden boat capsized on Thursday, leading to at least 50 fatalities, according to eyewitnesses speaking to The Associated Press.

Uncertain about the exact number of passengers aboard, witnesses reported witnessing rescue teams retrieving no fewer than 50 bodies from the waters. Additionally, 10 individuals survived the ordeal and were subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The vessel, heavily burdened with passengers, capsized while nearing the dock just meters away from Kituku port. This tragic event marks the latest in a series of fatal boat accidents in the central African nation, where overcrowding is frequently the root cause. Earlier this summer, another overcrowded boat sank near the capital, claiming 80 lives.

(With inputs from agencies.)