Africa

At least 21 feared drowned after ‘taxi canoe’ capsizes in Congolese lake

Two bodies recovered so but remains of 21 other potential victims still missing

Canoe incident Congo 2022
The canoe with 25 on board left Kyavinyonge village on the banks of the lake for Kisaka but broke down and capsized, the authorities said. Map: Datawrapper
Fri Dec 23 2022 - 16:43

At least 21 people from a church choral group were feared drowned after a boat carrying them capsized on Lake Edward in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo early on Friday, a regional member of parliament and a local chief said.

The canoe with 25 on board left Kyavinyonge village on the banks of the lake for Kisaka but broke down and capsized, the authorities said.

“It is a taxi canoe. There were 25 people,” Mumbere Matsozi Eugene, a chief in the area, said by telephone. “Out of the 25, two bodies have been recovered and two survivors. The other 21 people are feared dead. The bodies have not yet been found,” he told Reuters

Jean Paul Lumbululumbu, a regional member of parliament, confirmed the toll.

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Deadly boat accidents are common in waters of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has few tarred roads across its vast, forested territory, and where vessels are frequently loaded well beyond their capacity. – Reuters

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