At least 78 people have drowned, and many more remain missing after a boat, believed to be carrying 278 passengers, capsized on Thursday morning near the shore of Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When the tragedy occurred, the MV Merdy was just a few hundred meters from docking at the port of Kituku, outside the city of Goma.
A Journey Gone Wrong
The vessel, which was crossing the lake from the town of Minova, was built to carry only 80 people. However, reports from survivors indicate it was massively overcrowded, carrying nearly 200 more passengers than its intended capacity. The governor of South Kivu province, Jean-Jacques Purisi, confirmed that 278 people were aboard the MV Merdy at the time of the accident. “It’ll take at least three days to get the exact numbers because not all the bodies have been found yet,” Purisi told Reuters.
Eyewitnesses waiting at the landing pier for their friends and family members watched in horror as the vessel capsized just moments before it was set to dock. Many of those onboard were traders transporting goods, a necessity in the region due to dangerous and impassable roads caused by ongoing conflict between government forces and M23 rebels.
Lake Kivu has become an increasingly perilous route for travelers and traders, as conflict in the area has made land transportation unsafe or prohibitively expensive. Lorries carrying food and supplies between Goma and Minova have been raided or stopped, pushing more people to risk dangerous boat journeys across the lake. This insecurity has led to overcrowding on boats, as traders and civilians alike seek alternative routes.
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Personal Stories of Loss
For many, this disaster has personal and heartbreaking consequences. Nuru Alpha, a resident of Goma, was waiting at the port for 12 family members who were onboard the MV Merdy. “Unfortunately, two of them died. Three are in hospital, and I haven’t heard from seven others so far,” he said, adding, “These people were like shields for us. They were our livelihoods, and it’s quite a void we have left now.”
Emmanuelle Furaha, a 17-year-old survivor, described the terrifying moment the boat capsized: “We came from Minova around 8 a.m., and when we wanted to get to the dock, the ship capsized. That’s when I swam until I miraculously reached the shore.”
A History of Tragedies on Lake Kivu
Unfortunately, shipwrecks on Lake Kivu have become increasingly common. In 2019, more than 150 people drowned when a boat capsized en route from Kalehe in South Kivu to Goma. Just last month, another boat capsized on the River Kwango, leaving at least four dead and more than 40 missing. Despite these tragedies, water safety regulations are poorly enforced, and boats frequently exceed their passenger limits.
Local politician Johnson Ishara condemned the lack of oversight. “What has just happened in Kituku is a scandal,” he said. “There were no lifejackets onboard the ship. I didn’t see anyone wearing a lifejacket. Maybe, if lifejackets were available, more would survive.”
Calls for Change
In the wake of the disaster, there have been renewed calls to improve safety measures on Lake Kivu. Thomas Bakenga, administrator of the Kalehe territory, confirmed that the MV Merdy’s boarding manifest listed only 80 passengers, raising concerns about the boat’s compliance with regulations. Bakenga has promised a thorough investigation into the incident.
For some, the root cause of the disaster is not just overcrowding but the ongoing conflict that forces people to choose dangerous travel routes. “If all of us had taken the road to Minova, we wouldn’t be witnessing this disaster. Let the war end so that this road can be reopened,” said Adeline Bora, a trader who lost her sister-in-law and aunt in the sinking.
Rescue operations, including efforts by the Malawian army, have so far saved 40 people, but the death toll is expected to rise as search teams continue to recover bodies.
The MV Merdy disaster is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by overcrowded boats and the insecurity driving people to make perilous journeys across Lake Kivu. As the death toll rises and more bodies are recovered, the incident underscores the urgent need for better regulation and safety enforcement on the lake, as well as a resolution to the conflict that has made land travel so hazardous. For the families affected, the loss is incalculable, and for survivors, the memories of the disaster will linger for years to come.
