Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-01-30 11:15:27
A local official in eastern Congo has reported that the majority of the 50 passengers aboard a wooden boat that capsized on Lake Kivu are presumed to be dead. Mustafa Mamboleo, an official with South Kivu province, stated that the boat, which was also carrying 20 bags of cement, likely sank on Sunday due to being overloaded.
According to Mamboleo, only 10 people survived the incident and three bodies have been recovered so far. The search is ongoing for approximately 37 people who are still missing.
Tragically, deadly boating accidents are a common occurrence in Congo, often due to crews overloading small wooden vessels. In January, 22 people lost their lives on Lake Maî-Ndombe, and last April, six individuals perished with 64 others going missing on Lake Kivu.
Daniel Lwaboshi, the director of Congo’s Public Riverways Authority, highlighted that maritime regulations are frequently ignored, and overloading is a primary factor contributing to these accidents. He made these remarks on state television on Monday.
The lack of adherence to maritime regulations and the practice of overloading are significant issues that contribute to the recurring boating accidents in Congo. The tragic incident on Lake Kivu is yet another devastating example of the consequences of these safety violations. It is imperative for authorities to address these issues and enforce stricter regulations to prevent further loss of life in future boating accidents.
