Ship with more than 450 passengers sinks in Congo, rescue ongoing

Kinshasa [DR Congo], October 4: Rescue operations are ongoing after a ship carrying more than 450 passengers sank in Lake Kivu in Congo shortly before docking on Thursday, according to eyewitnesses. There are currently no official figures on casualties.
The ship was travelling from Minova in the neighbouring province of South Kivu to Goma near the border with Rwanda, according to a dpa reporter at the scene. Congo's road network is relatively underdeveloped, meaning boats and passenger ferries on the country's lakes and rivers are the only means of transport for many people. Serious boat accidents are not uncommon in Africa. The ships are often old, in poor technical condition or overloaded, while safety regulations such as the provision of life jackets are frequently not adhered to. On Tuesday at least 60 people died in northern Nigeria when a ship sank on the Niger River. (dpa)
Source: Qatar Tribune