At least 78 people died when a boat with 278 on board capsized in eastern Congo, official says
A Congolese governor says at least 78 people have died when an overcrowded boat with 278 passengers capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo
GOMA, Congo (AP) — At least 78 people died when an overcrowded boat capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo on Thursday, a local governor said. A frantic search and rescue operation was underway hours later as many remained unaccounted for from the vessel, believed to have had 278 people on board.
Jean-Jacques Purusi, the governor of the South Kivu province, said the death toll was provisional and that the number of fatalities could rise further. He said that according to the information that local authorities had, there were 278 people on board.
The boat set off from the port of Minova, in South Kivu province, earlier in the day and was en route to Goma, in North Kivu province, Purusi said, speaking over the phone.
"We do not yet have (the full picture of) the whole situation but we will have it by tomorrow,” he told The Associated Press.
