Democratic Republic of
Congo authorities have confirmed that 23 people have died after MV Merdi capsized in Lake Kivu, North Kivu province on Thursday.
The boat that was
carrying over 300 people and cargo was heading to Kituku port near Goma city
from Minova in South Kivu, according to locals. However, on reaching a few
meters from the port of Kituku the boat began to sink.
Locals, Armed Forces of
the Democratic Republic of Cong (FARDC) soldiers and soldiers under the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) intervened and rescued a few but many sank
with the boat. Locals attribute the accident to the overloading of the boat.
On Thursday, Ekuka Lipopo, Vice Governor of North Kivu province released a statement
confirming that 23 people have died. Lipopo says that the death toll could rise
since the search is still ongoing.
Lipopo also says that about 40 people have
been rescued by locals and the army.
//Cue in:
Cue out:
Locals, mostly
traders, use the port of Kituku to supply goods to Goma city. The area is
however known for not having a system for monitoring traffic at the lake.
Since
the occupation of the town of Shasha area by the March 23 rebels, many of the
locals in Minova opted to pass through Lake Kivu to access Goma city.
This is not the first
time boat accidents have happened in Lake Kivu. In February 2024, a boat
capsized near Bahimba and killed 64 people