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.
Deadly boat accidents are common in Congo, where rivers and lakes are a major means of transport for its more than 100 million people. Vessels are often overloaded with goods and passengers, many of whom travel without life jackets.
“The authorities had, in particular, begun requiring passengers to wear life jackets. Today, however, many people continue to travel without them,” said Dorcelle Bagazane, a member of civil society in Idjwi.
Published – September 27, 2026 06:24 pm IST
