The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a country plagued by many challenges, including political instability, armed conflicts, and a severely underdeveloped infrastructure. Among these challenges is the issue of maritime safety on the country’s lakes and rivers, where boat accidents, often involving overcrowded vessels, are tragically common. The most recent disaster struck on the morning of Thursday, October 3, 2024, when a ferry carrying over 278 passengers capsized on Lake Kivu, one of the African Great Lakes located between the DRC and Rwanda. The boat had departed from the town of Minova in South Kivu province and was only a few hundred meters from its destination in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, when it sank.
As of now, the death toll has risen to 78, with fears that more bodies may yet be recovered in the coming days. This heartbreaking incident has sent waves of grief and frustration throughout the country, raising critical questions about the safety of DRC’s transport systems and the government’s ability to protect its citizens from recurring disasters.
The Event Unfolds
The ferry, which was carrying far more passengers than its capacity, was nearing the shore of Goma when the tragedy occurred. A video widely circulated on social media shows the boat tilting to one side before it capsized, leaving passengers struggling for survival. According to witnesses, the vessel capsized around 7:30 a.m. as it tried to dock in Goma after traveling from Minova, a small town along the lake’s shoreline.
Survivors reported that the waters of Lake Kivu were calm during the voyage, and there was no prior indication that the boat was in immediate danger. However, as the ferry approached Goma, it began to lose balance due to its excessive load and rough waves that hit the boat just meters away from the dock.
Bahati Selemani, a dock worker who was part of the rescue effort, told the Associated Press (AP) that he saw the disaster unfold. “We noticed that the boat was very overloaded, and there were also strong waves,” he said. “After that, the boat started to capsize little by little. Those who were upstairs started to throw themselves into the lake, and the boat capsized directly into the water.”
Many passengers were left helpless in the water, with limited access to life jackets or flotation devices. A large number of those aboard could not swim, a common issue in the DRC, where swimming skills are not widespread. As the boat went under, chaos ensued as desperate passengers fought to stay afloat.
Witnesses and Survivors Speak Out
Among the survivors was 51-year-old Alfani Buroko Byamungu, who recounted his experience from his hospital bed. Speaking to Reuters, Byamungu explained that the conditions on the lake seemed stable and calm during the journey. “I saw people sinking; many went under,” he recalled. “I saw women and children sinking in the water, and I myself was on the verge of drowning, but God helped me.”
The horrific sight of children and vulnerable passengers drowning was echoed by other survivors and witnesses. Aaron Ashuza, a local activist who was at the scene, described the chaos and tragedy as rescuers worked to recover bodies and rescue survivors. “I saw bodies being pulled out of the river,” he told the BBC, adding that the injured were rushed to local hospitals.
At least two children died shortly after they were taken to the hospital, according to AFP. Rescue efforts were hindered by the lack of adequate resources, with responders struggling to recover all the victims due to the boat’s absence of a proper passenger manifest. This is another tragic consequence of poor regulation and oversight, as many boats in the DRC operate without keeping accurate records of those on board.
Maritime Accidents in the DRC: A Grim Pattern
Unfortunately, such maritime accidents are not uncommon in the DRC. The country has a long history of boat disasters, most of which are attributed to overcrowded vessels, lack of safety measures, poor maintenance, and inadequate rescue capabilities. Many of the country’s boats operate on rivers and lakes without proper safety regulations or equipment, such as life jackets, and often exceed their recommended passenger capacity.
One of the most significant issues is the lack of enforcement of existing laws. Although regulations exist that require operators to adhere to safety standards, they are often ignored. Boat operators continue to overload their vessels, and passengers are rarely provided with safety jackets. In many instances, vessels are so crowded that it is impossible for passengers to evacuate quickly in the event of an emergency.
Additionally, the absence of reliable transportation infrastructure forces many Congolese people to depend on these unsafe boats as their primary means of travel. Roads are scarce, and in regions like South Kivu, where dense rainforests and rugged terrain make land transport difficult, waterways become the default mode of travel. However, the risk involved in traveling by boat in the DRC is immense, and with each journey, lives are gambled.
Over the years, multiple ferry disasters have occurred on DRC’s lakes and rivers, claiming thousands of lives. In May 2019, at least 30 people died when a boat capsized on Lake Mai-Ndombe in western DRC. Similarly, in 2020, more than 50 people died when another ferry sank on Lake Albert. These incidents, like the latest tragedy on Lake Kivu, are often attributed to a combination of overloading, poor weather conditions, and the lack of safety equipment.
The Response: Rescue Operations and Government Reactions
Following the Lake Kivu disaster, rescue operations were quickly launched to search for survivors and recover bodies. However, these efforts were hampered by several factors. The lack of passenger manifests meant that authorities could not determine how many people were still unaccounted for. Local fisherman and volunteers joined in the rescue efforts, combing the waters in search of any survivors who might still be clinging to debris.
Governor Jean Jacques Purisi of the North Kivu province said it could take at least three days to determine the exact number of casualties. “It’ll take at least three days to get the exact numbers because not all the bodies have been found yet,” Purisi told Reuters. His statement highlighted the challenges that Congolese authorities face in conducting rescue missions in such disasters, where resources are limited, and precise information is scarce.
In the aftermath of the disaster, many Congolese citizens and local activists have voiced their frustration with the government’s failure to enforce maritime safety regulations. They argue that unless serious measures are taken to improve the safety of water travel in the country, these tragedies will continue to occur.
A Call for Action
The Lake Kivu ferry disaster is yet another reminder of the need for urgent reforms in the DRC’s transportation sector. The government must take immediate steps to address the systemic issues that contribute to these recurring tragedies. This includes enforcing stricter regulations on boat operators, ensuring that vessels are not overloaded, and mandating the use of life jackets for all passengers.
There is also a critical need for the government to invest in improving the country’s transport infrastructure. By providing more safe and reliable alternatives for travel, particularly in remote areas like South Kivu, the reliance on unsafe boats could be reduced. Additionally, enhancing emergency response capabilities, including improving access to rescue boats and equipment, would help save lives when accidents do occur.
For now, the people of the DRC are left to mourn yet another devastating loss of life. As the rescue operations continue and more bodies are recovered, the tragedy on Lake Kivu will undoubtedly leave lasting scars on the affected families and the country as a whole. However, if meaningful changes are made, future disasters could be prevented, sparing countless lives from similar fates.
Conclusion
The Lake Kivu ferry disaster stands as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who depend on overcrowded and unsafe vessels to navigate the DRC’s vast waterways. With over 78 lives lost and potentially more bodies to be recovered, the country is once again forced to confront the tragic consequences of poor regulation, lack of safety, and inadequate infrastructure.
For the grieving families, the hope is that this disaster will serve as a catalyst for change, prompting the Congolese government to take meaningful steps toward improving maritime safety and preventing further loss of life. Until then, the people of the DRC continue to endure a cycle of preventable tragedies, with each boat journey presenting an unnecessary risk to human life.
