A local authority stated that the bulk of the 50 people on board a wooden boat that overturned on a lake in eastern Congo are thought to be dead.
According to Mustafa Mamboleo, an official with South Kivu province, the boat crossing Lake Kivu sank on Sunday, most likely due to being overloaded. It was also carrying 20 bags of cement, as per The Independent.
Boat Capsizes in Lake Kivu in Congo
Red Cross volunteers from Goma (DR Congo) and Gisenyi (Rwanda) intervene on the municipal beach of Gisenyi, northeast Rwanda on April 20, 2019, and load the bodies of people who were found on the same day as those who disappeared when a pirogue sank on Lake Kivu on April 15. - Democratic Republic of Congo President has declared on April 19, 2019 a day of mourning with 114 people still missing days after a boat capsized on Lake Kivu, killing 13, the presidency said. He has also decided to make it mandatory for passengers on the lake, the site of regular drownings, to have lifebuoys, the presidency office said in a statement.
Mamboleo reported that 10 people managed to survive while three bodies have been recovered. The search operation is still ongoing for approximately 37 individuals.
A tragic boating incident has taken place in Congo, once again bringing attention to the pressing issue of maritime safety in the region. A wooden boat carrying passengers and cargo was involved in an incident on Lake Kivu, resulting in a tragic outcome.
Deadly boat accidents are an unfortunate occurrence in Congo, where small wooden vessels are often overloaded. The country heavily relies on its rivers for transportation due to the underdeveloped road infrastructure, and most river traffic is managed by small, informal operators. Authorities have consistently raised alarms about the lax adherence to maritime regulations, contributing to the recurrence of such unfortunate events.
Mustafa Mamboleo, an official with South Kivu province, reported that the ill-fated boat was not only carrying passengers but also 20 bags of cement. The overloading likely played a pivotal role in the vessel's sinking on the fateful Sunday. As of now, the search for survivors and victims continues, with 10 people confirmed alive, three bodies recovered, and approximately 37 people still missing, according to ABC News.
Read Also: Maersk Has Issued A Warning In The Wake Of Ongoing Red Sea Conflict
Congo's Maritime Safety Under Scrutiny
This incident echoes a similar tragedy in January when a wooden boat capsized on a lake in eastern Congo, with most of the 50 passengers presumed dead. These events underscore the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and stricter enforcement of maritime regulations in the region.
Daniel Lwaboshi, the director of Congo's Public Riverways Authority, addressed the issue on state television, acknowledging that adherence to maritime regulations is often lacking. He emphasized that overloading remains a primary factor contributing to these accidents. The need for urgent action to address these safety concerns and prevent future tragedies was underscored.
Maritime safety in Congo poses a complex challenge, as the country faces issues such as inadequate infrastructure and a heavy dependence on informal operators for river transport. The government has an important duty to implement and enforce strict regulations to guarantee the safety of passengers and cargo.
As these tragic events persist, there is an increasing demand for comprehensive actions to be implemented to prevent more casualties and enhance safety protocols in the maritime sector of the area, The Free Press reported.
Related Article: Pentagon Warns Iranian-Backed Militia Leaders After Kataeb Hezbollah Commander Retaliatory Strike
