A vessel carrying approximately 100 people and cargo sank on Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The boat was en route from the port of Kigoma in Tanzania to the city of Kalemie in the DRC when it capsized near the village of Mapera. According to provincial transport minister Norris Mulongoyi, at least 41 individuals perished in the incident, while rescue teams successfully recovered 49 survivors. Search operations were initiated to locate additional missing passengers.
A passenger named Annie Moyoni recounted the circumstances to Radio Okapi, a UN-supported Congolese broadcaster, describing how travelers were awakened around 1am and noticed the vessel tilting to one side. The exact cause of the capsizing remained undetermined at the time of reporting. Safety concerns have been persistent in maritime incidents within the country, with vessels frequently operating above safe capacity limits and often lacking adequate life-saving equipment.
Boat travel represents a critical transportation method for DRC residents, particularly among lower-income populations seeking affordable mobility options. Given the nation’s economic constraints and limited infrastructure development relative to its population of more than 100 million, water-based transport remains essential despite associated risks.
The incident marked the second significant maritime loss on the Kigoma-Kalemie route within a brief timeframe. Earlier in August, the MV Pacifique, a Congolese vessel, experienced a fire and explosion while loading fuel at Kigoma’s port, resulting in six crew deaths and one person reported missing. Additionally, in July, at least 20 individuals died when a wooden boat transporting students returning from state examinations sank in central DRC.
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