A tragic boat accident in Lake Kivu, located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has left at least 78 people dead after the vessel, overloaded with passengers and cargo, sank on Thursday morning.
The boat was traveling from the town of Minova in South Kivu province and went down just a few hundred meters short of reaching its destination at Kituku port in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
Local authorities confirmed that 58 survivors have been treated in nearby healthcare facilities, while the search continues for more victims.
The exact number of passengers on board remains uncertain, but estimates suggest the vessel was carrying over 500 people, making the situation even more dire.
Rescue efforts, supported by local soldiers and fishermen, extended throughout the day as bodies were retrieved from the lake.
Many victims were transported to nearby hospitals, where two children were confirmed to have died before they could receive medical treatment.
Survivors described chaotic scenes as the boat began to tip over, throwing passengers into the water. Several families remain unaccounted for, with loved ones missing as authorities work to determine the total number of people on board.
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