At least 12 killed after vessel overturns in DR Congo

At least 12 people died after a boat capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo, with dozens still missing, officials confirmed on Sunday.According to Félix Habiragi, village chief of Kisheke, the vessel was carrying upwards of 50 passengers when it went down on Saturday night close to Idjwi Island in South Kivu province. Around 15 people have been pulled to safety so far, he said.Preliminary reports cited by local media suggest the true number on board may have exceeded 80. By Sunday morning, only five survivors had been found, leaving dozens still unaccounted for as search efforts continued.Local administrator Muhindo Ntambuka Pascal said the boat had been ferrying fish traders and cargo between Bwina and Boza, both on Idjwi Island.Such tragedies are far from rare in Congo, where waterways remain a vital transport link for a population exceeding 100 million. What triggered this particular sinking is still unclear, though overloading and poorly maintained boats are frequently to blame in similar disasters.The incident comes just days after another deadly sinking.On Thursday, close to 41 people lost their lives when a boat sailing from Tanzania to Kalemie went down on Lake Tanganyika, in DRC's Tanganyika province.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.