41 killed as boat sinks on Lake Tanganyika in Congo

Photo: Collected

At least 41 people have died after a passenger and cargo boat sank on Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday. Authorities have rescued 49 people and launched an intensified search for those still missing.

The boat was carrying about 100 passengers and cargo from Tanzania’s Kigoma port to the Congolese city of Kalemie when it capsized near Mapera village. A survivor said passengers were awakened around 1 am after the vessel suddenly tilted and sank. The exact cause remains unclear.

The disaster highlights persistent safety concerns on Congo’s waterways, where many communities rely heavily on boats for transport. Overcrowding, excessive cargo and shortages of life-saving equipment are common, while the Kigoma-Kalemie route has witnessed another major incident within weeks. Rescue teams continue searching for missing passengers.

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