Over 20 Students Drown After School Boat Capsizes in Eastern Congo

A passenger boat carrying secondary school students sank on Lake Kivu on Saturday, killing at least 20 people and injuring several others, according to local authorities. The vessel, reportedly overloaded, was traveling from the town of Goma to a nearby island where the students were to take a post‑exam celebration. Survivors said the boat began to take on water shortly after departure and capsized within minutes, leaving many trapped inside. Emergency responders from the provincial health ministry and the Red Cross arrived on the scene, retrieving bodies and transporting the injured to hospitals in Goma. The government announced an investigation into the incident and urged stricter enforcement of safety regulations for passenger vessels on the lake.

The tragedy occurs amid ongoing instability in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where armed groups and inter‑communal violence have displaced millions and disrupted basic services. The region’s fragile security situation has also hampered regulatory oversight, contributing to frequent accidents involving poorly maintained transport. International aid agencies have repeatedly called for improved safety standards and better infrastructure to protect civilians, especially children, in the area.

Authorities have not yet released the exact number of passengers aboard the boat, but local officials indicated that many of the victims were teenagers who had just completed national examinations. Funeral rites are being organized by families and community leaders, while school officials have expressed condolences and pledged support for the bereaved families.