12 dead, dozens missing after vessel capsizes in eastern Congo’s Lake Kivu
A vessel carrying over 50 people capsized in Lake Kivu, Congo, resulting in at least 12 deaths and dozens missing. Local authorities note that overcrowding and a lack of life jackets remain persistent safety issues in the region.
Why it matters
Highlights ongoing infrastructure and safety challenges in maritime transport within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A vessel carrying fish traders capsized in Lake Kivu in eastern Congo, killing at least 12 people and leaving dozens missing, authorities said on Sunday (September 27, 2026).
The vessel was carrying more than 50 people when it capsized on Saturday (September 26, 2026) night near Idjwi Island in South Kivu province, said Félix Habiragi, chief of the nearby village of Kisheke. He said about 15 people had been rescued, and the cause of the accident was not immediately clear.
Christian Amini Ndahira, a resident of Idjwi, said he lost a friend on the boat. "We had even spoken in the evening, before he boarded that boat. It's so sad for me and for his family," he said.
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