Chinese, Congolese, Tanzanians and Kenyans among 25 passengers feared dead as ship sinks in Lake Tanganyika
More than 25 people are feared dead after the ferry they were travelling on from Tanzania to DR Congo, capsized and reportedly sank in the Lake Tanganyika waters on Sunday, April 7, 2024.
The Marine Vessel Maman Benita which was sailing from the Kigoma Port in Tanzania, heading towards the Kalemie Township in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Two people have so far been rescued from the Lake, with the search teams from Kalemie continuing to wade the waters looking for others.
It is being reported that the vessel was also carrying cargo including motor vehicles that were being transported from Tanzania to Congo.
The ETS Tchikoma owned MV Maman Benita ship which is registered in the Democratic Republic of Congo usually plies between the two destinations; Kigoma and Kalemie.
The vessel which left Kigoma, Tanzania on Saturday evening of April 6, 2024, is said to have sunk in the Lake just as it was approaching the Kalemie harbor in the DR Congo in the early morning hours of Sunday.
The number of passengers that was officially listed in the ship’s manifest was 25, among them 16 residents of DR Congo; Four Chinese nationals, Four Tanzanians and One Kenyan traveller.
But there are reports that some unregistered people could also have been on the ship; however authorities have so far denied this.
Lake Tanganyika, shared by Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo and Zambia happens to be the second deepest Lake in the world.
Here is the list of names of people who were on the ill-fated ferry ship.
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