At least 12 people have died and dozens are missing after a vessel carrying fish traders capsized in Lake Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said.
The vessel, which was carrying more than 50 people, went down on Saturday night near Idjwi Island in South Kivu province, according to Félix Habiragi, chief of the nearby village of Kisheke.
About 15 people were rescued, he said, adding that the cause of the accident was not immediately clear, says Al Jazeera.
It was ferrying fish traders and their goods from Bwina, on Idjwi Island, to Boza, local administrator Muhindo Ntambuka Pascal said.
Videos that appear to have been filmed at the scene showed villagers and other passengers pulling bodies from the lake.
Boat accidents are common in the DRC, where rivers and lakes are a major means of transport for more than 100 million people.
Vessels are often overloaded with goods and passengers, many of whom regularly travel without life jackets.
“The authorities had, in particular, begun requiring passengers to wear life jackets.
Today, however, many people continue to travel without them,” said Dorcelle Bagazane, a civil society member in Idjwi.
The accident comes only two days after at least 41 people died when a boat capsized on Lake Tanganyika in the DRC.
Forty-nine others were rescued.
That boat was reportedly carrying about 100 people and cargo when it went down near the Congolese village of Mapera.
