At least 21 people are missing after a boat capsized Tuesday on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo, officials said.
The vessel was heading to the town of Makengere after a market visit when it suddenly sank, authorities reported.
Rescuers confirmed that 23 passengers survived, and search teams were working to locate the remaining missing individuals.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, and the exact number of passengers onboard has not been confirmed.
Deadly boat accidents are frequent in Congo, where overcrowding and late-night travel often contribute to maritime disasters.
Insecurity in eastern Congo forces residents to avoid roads, relying instead on fragile wooden boats overloaded with goods.
Clashes between Congolese forces and rebels sometimes block major routes, pushing communities to risk unsafe water transport.
Provincial deputy Koko Chirimwami Akeem urged national and provincial authorities to act for long-term security and safety solutions.
Rivers serve as vital transport arteries for Congo’s 100 million residents, particularly in remote areas with poor infrastructure.
Hundreds of people have died in similar boat accidents in recent years, highlighting the persistent dangers of water travel.
