A tragic boat accident occurred on Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday, with more than 200 people aboard.
The vessel, carrying 278 passengers, capsized and sank, resulting in at least 78 deaths, according to South Kivu governor Jean-Jacques Purusi.
The overloaded boat was traveling from Minova in South Kivu to Goma in North Kivu. Witnesses reported that the boat began losing balance near Kituku port, leading many passengers to jump into the lake. Rescue operations are ongoing, with 50 survivors reported so far.
Overcrowded and unsafe boat travel is common in the region, despite warnings and previous deadly incidents. In June, 80 people died in a similar tragedy near Kinshasa.