Lake Kivu boat capsizes, leaving at least 12 dead and many missing

A motorized vessel carrying fish traders and goods capsized on Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo between Saturday night and Sunday morning. The accident occurred near Idjwi Island in South Kivu province as the boat was traveling from Bukavu toward Idjwi-Sud.

At least 12 people have been confirmed dead, and dozens remain missing. Rescue operations are ongoing, with reports indicating that approximately 5 to 15 people have been rescued from the water. The vessel was reportedly carrying between 50 and 80 passengers at the time of the incident.

The exact cause of the capsizing has not yet been established. This tragedy follows another major maritime accident on Lake Tanganyika earlier in the week, where 41 people died. Local officials and civil society members noted that while authorities have attempted to mandate life jackets, many passengers continue to travel without them, and overloading remains a frequent issue in the region's water transport system.