At least 12 dead and dozens missing after a vessel capsizes in DRC

This incident comes only two days after at least 41 people died in another boat capsizing in DRC.

Many fishing boats and hundreds of people cross Lake Kivu in eastern DRC every day [File: Hugh Kinsella Cunningham/Getty Images]

A vessel carrying fish traders has capsized in Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing at least 12 people with dozens still missing, authorities said.

The vessel was carrying more than 50 people on Saturday night near Idjwi Island in South Kivu province, said Félix Habiragi, chief of the village of Kisheke near the scene.

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He said the cause of the accident was not immediately clear and about 15 people were rescued.

The vessel was transporting fish traders and goods from Bwina on Idjwi Island to Boza, according to local administrator, Muhindo Ntambuka Pascal. Videos that appear to be from the scene showed villagers and other passengers pulling bodies from the lake.

Boat accidents are common in the DRC, as rivers and lakes are a major means of transport for over 100 million people. Vessels are often overloaded with goods and passengers, many of whom frequently 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 civil society member in Idjwi.

Earlier this week, at least 41 people died and 49 were rescued when a boat capsized on Lake Tanganyika in the DRC. It was reportedly carrying about 100 people and cargo when it capsized near the Congolese village of Mapera.

就在两天前，刚果民主共和国发生另一起船只倾覆事故，造成至少 41 人死亡。

每天有许多渔船和数百人穿越刚果民主共和国东部的基伍湖。[图片：Hugh Kinsella Cunningham/Getty Images]

刚果民主共和国（刚果（金））东部基伍湖发生一起载有鱼贩的船只倾覆事故，造成至少 12 人死亡，数十人失踪，当局称。

据事发地点附近基舍克村村长费利克斯·哈比拉吉称，周六晚上，这艘船上载有 50 多人，地点位于南基伍省伊德维岛附近。

卡塔尔表示“外交手段无可替代”，比利时和卢旺达恢复了关系（共4个名单，此为第1个）。

列表 2/4 刚果民主共和国坦噶尼喀湖发生船只倾覆事故，至少 41 人死亡

世界卫生组织称，刚果民主共和国埃博拉疫情蔓延至两个新的卫生区（共4个卫生区，这是其中3个）。

列表 4/4：刚果民主共和国飞机坠毁事故致至少 17 人死亡

他说，事故原因尚不清楚，约有15人获救。

据当地行政长官穆欣多·恩坦布卡·帕斯卡尔称，这艘船当时正从伊吉维岛的布维纳运送鱼贩和货物前往博扎。疑似现场拍摄的视频显示，村民和其他乘客正从湖中打捞尸体。

在刚果民主共和国，船只事故屡见不鲜，因为河流和湖泊是超过1亿人口的主要交通方式。船只经常超载，载货和乘客众多，其中许多人经常没有穿救生衣。

“当局尤其开始要求乘客穿救生衣。然而，如今许多人仍然不穿救生衣出行，”伊吉维市民间社会成员多塞尔·巴加扎内说道。

本周早些时候，一艘船只在刚果民主共和国坦噶尼喀湖倾覆，造成至少41人死亡，49人获救。据报道，事发时船上载有约100人和货物，地点位于刚果马佩拉村附近。