BUKAVU: A tragedy struck Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as a boat loaded with traders and their goods capsized in strong winds on Monday.
According to local authorities, the incident left at least six people dead, and dozens of others are still missing.
When it sank, the boat was heading from Mugote in South Kivu province towards Goma, the capital of neighbouring North Kivu.
A police official from Mugote said that the heavy winds caused the boat to capsize about 20 kilometres (12 miles) into the journey.
The boat was carrying around 150 passengers, of which 80 managed to escape. The bodies of three women and three children have been recovered, and the search operation for the missing people is still ongoing.
Transport on lakes and rivers is essential for getting around the vast region as DR Congo has few passable roads.
However, shipwrecks are common in the area. The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers faced by the people of DR Congo due to the lack of proper infrastructure.
Govt urged to take steps to avoid boat sinking incidents
Local officials have urged the government to take measures to prevent such accidents in the future. The families of the victims have also demanded compensation from the authorities.
The incident has left the people of DR Congo mourning the loss of their loved ones and hoping that such tragedies will not occur again.
The DR Congo government has expressed condolences to the families of the victims and has promised to investigate the incident thoroughly.
However, many believe that without significant improvements in infrastructure and transport safety regulations, such incidents will continue to occur in the future.
