At least 78 people have drowned after a ferry carrying 278 passengers sank on Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The vessel had departed from Minova in South Kivu and was just a few hundred meters from its destination near Goma when it capsised on Thursday morning.
Rescue efforts, led by local fishermen, the Congolese armed forces, and the Southern African Development Community, are still underway, with many bodies yet to be recovered.
Regional Governor Jean Jacques Purisi stated that it may take several days to determine the exact number of casualties.
Among the dead were two children who were rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi’s office announced an investigation into the cause of the disaster, vowing to implement strict measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The incident follows another deadly boat accident in Nigeria earlier in the week, where at least 60 people perished when a vessel capsized.
