At least 78 people have died after a boat carrying 278 people capsized in Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Governor of South Kivu province Jean Jacques Purisi stated that it will take at least three days to determine the exact number of casualties, as not all bodies have been recovered yet. At least 58 people have been rescued, with many receiving treatment.
The boat, which had come from the town of Minova in South Kivu province, sank on Thursday morning, just a short distance from its destination at the shore of Goma. Overcrowded vessels are increasingly being used to cross Lake Kivu as road closures due to fighting between Congolese government forces and rebels have made land travel dangerous.
One survivor recounted seeing people around him drowning as he struggled to stay afloat in the lake. Another resident who lost three family members in the incident blamed the war for the tragedy, stating that efforts to clear the roads for safer travel have not been made.
The conflict in the eastern DRC has intensified in recent months, with the M23 rebel group seizing territory and increasing the presence of armed groups in the area. The incident has sparked frustration among residents over the lack of safe travel options and the impact of the ongoing violence on the local population.
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