*Kinshasa – October 4, 2024*At least 78 people have been confirmed dead after a boat carrying 278 passengers capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo, officials reported on Thursday. Rescue operations are ongoing, with 23 bodies recovered so far, and 40 people rescued from the waters, but the death toll is expected to rise.Jean-Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu province, provided the grim update, cautioning that the current death toll was provisional and that more fatalities could be reported as rescue teams continue their efforts. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.Authorities are coordinating with emergency services to search for survivors and recover bodies from the lake. Lake Kivu, which straddles the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, has seen several similar incidents in the past, primarily due to overcrowded boats and poor safety regulations.This tragedy has cast a shadow over the region, as families anxiously await news of their loved ones, and officials work to address the challenges posed by inadequate transportation infrastructure.