The tragic series of accidents continues on the waters of the Democratic Republic of Congo. On the night of Sunday, April 12th to Monday, April 13th, 2026 , a motorized canoe sank on Lake Tanganyika, near the city of Kalemie (eastern DRC). The latest official toll, released this Tuesday, reports at least thirty deaths .

The circumstances of the tragedy

The wooden boat had left the town of Katibili with about fifty passengers on board. The tragedy occurred around 4 a.m., while it was off the coast of the village of Kibanga .

1. Main cause: Strong winds and adverse weather conditions.
2. Location: The shipwreck occurred approximately 10 km from its final destination, Kalemie.
3. Victims: Among the bodies recovered are many women and children.

The human toll is still uncertain.

The mayor of Kalemie, David Mukeba , confirmed the rising death toll. Initially set at 16 on Monday, the count climbed to 30 confirmed deaths on Tuesday evening. However, this figure could still increase.

"It is difficult at the moment to know the exact number of travelers," the mayor stated.

Security flaws highlighted

This latest accident once again highlights the lack of regulation of lake transport in the region:

1. Lack of manifest: The vessel was sailing without a passenger list, making the identification of victims and the calculation of missing persons extremely complex.
2. Lack of oversight: Sources close to the maritime commission deplore the total absence of control at the port of departure.
3. Maritime authorities remain silent: When asked for comment, the maritime commissioner of Kalemie did not respond to requests.

The search, which began on Monday morning by the villagers of Kibanga, continues in an attempt to find any missing persons.