By Johnathan Paoli
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep condolences on behalf of the government and the nation to the Democratic Republic of Congo following a devastating boating tragedy on Lake Kivu.
A vessel capsized last week near the shore of Lake Kivu, resulting in the tragic loss of an estimated 80 lives.
It had 278 people on board was en route to Goma from Minova.
Rescue teams are still searching for many of the people who were on board when the accident occurred.
“President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the families of the deceased passengers and of passengers who have yet to be accounted for,” his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said in statement on Monday.
“President Ramaphosa wishes survivors a speedy recovery and wishes rescue and recovery crews well in the grim duty they are performing in the service of the Congolese people.”
Ramaphosa also wished the survivors a speedy recovery, with reports disclosing that at least 58 people had been rescued.
The country has faced numerous challenges in recent years, and this latest tragedy has drawn attention to the need for improved safety measures on waterways.
As investigations into the cause of the sinking continue, calls for greater regulation and oversight of maritime transport are expected to intensify.
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