DR Congo holds funeral for victims of recent ferry accident


By Shi YuZanem

GOMA, DR Congo, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- An official funeral was held on Thursday in Goma, the capital of the North Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in memory of the victims of the recent deadly ferry accident on Lake Kivu.

The burial of 11 identified bodies of Goma residents killed after the ferry "MV MERDI" capsized on Lake Kivu a week ago took place at the Makao cemetery. At least 87 people were killed last Thursday after the ferry capsized near the port of Kituku, according to a provincial government report that did not specify the number of people on board.

The ferry broke into three pieces and is currently at a depth of about 198 meters in Lake Kivu, said Jean Romuald Lipopo, vice-governor of the province, who was present at the funeral, noting that the methane gas in Lake Kivu has hampered search efforts.

The ferry, coming from Minova in the province of South Kivu, sank hundreds of meters from the port after failing to withstand the speed of a violent wave, according to sources at the port of Kituku. Local sources reported a "significant overload" of the ferry.

The land route between Goma and Minova has been cut off for months due to hostilities between armed groups and the DRC military. Cases of shipwrecks are frequently recorded on Lake Kivu due to strong winds and overloading.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

Elon Musk’s PAC ‘spent an estimated US$200mil’ to help elect Trump
South Korea's Yoon to visit Peru, Brazil on Nov 14-21 for APEC, G20 summits
Explainer-COP29: What is the latest science on climate change?
Breakaway Georgian region calls emergency security meeting amid protests
Are face-scanning smart glasses a problem or prophecy?
Discarding decades of dynastic politics, Sri Lankans to vote for change in parliament poll
St Peter’s gets AI treatment with ‘digital twin’ of famed basilica
Russian frigate with hypersonic missiles conducts drills in English Channel, enters Atlantic
How a Colombian influencer made recycling cool
South Korea's Yoon practices golf to prepare for future Trump meets

Others Also Read