At least 41 people died and 49 were rescued after a passenger vessel carrying about 100 people capsized near Mapera on Lake Tanganyika. Survivors say the boat began tilting around 1 a.m.; the exact cause of the capsize remains unknown. Search-and-rescue teams are still operating as officials investigate, and the sinking highlights chronic overcrowding and safety shortfalls on DRC waterways.
At Least 41 Dead After Passenger Boat Capsizes on Lake Tanganyika; Search Underway
A ferry is docked in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on October 8, 2024 [Justin Kabumba/AP]
At least 41 people have died and 49 others were rescued after a passenger vessel capsized on Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), authorities said.
Norris Mulongoyi, Tanganyika province's transport minister, told The Associated Press that search teams were continuing efforts to locate remaining passengers believed to have been on board. Officials have not yet released a final passenger manifest.
Authorities say the boat was carrying roughly 100 people plus cargo when it overturned near the Congolese village of Mapera while traveling from the Tanzanian port of Kigoma to the city of Kalemie in the DRC. The vessel sank on Thursday.
Survivor Account
A survivor identified as Annie Moyoni told the UN-backed broadcaster Radio Okapi that passengers were roused at about 1 a.m. and discovered the boat leaning heavily to one side. "We woke up and the boat was tilting," she said, describing the chaotic moments as people tried to escape.
Context And Safety Concerns
It remains unclear what triggered the capsize. The Associated Press notes that in recent years hundreds of people have died in watercraft disasters across the DRC, where overcrowding, inadequate maintenance and a shortage of life jackets are common problems. For many Congolese, boat travel is the most affordable transport option amid weak road and rail infrastructure.
This sinking is the second major loss reported on the Kigoma–Kalemie route in less than a month. On August 28, the Congolese vessel MV Pacifique caught fire and exploded at the port of Kigoma while loading fuel; port authorities told Radio Okapi that six crew members were killed and a seventh was reported missing. Separately, at least 20 people died in July when a wooden boat carrying students returning from state exams sank in central DRC.
Ongoing Response
Search-and-rescue teams remain active as authorities work to recover the missing and investigate the cause of the accident. Local officials have appealed for support and have urged boat operators to follow safety regulations, while humanitarian groups have warned that persistent gaps in maritime safety continue to put lives at risk.
Note: Numbers may change as search operations continue and authorities confirm a final passenger list.
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