UN Mission helps rescue shipwrecked passengers in eastern DR Congo

At least one person died and 10 others are missing after a boat capsized in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the country (MONUSCO) reported today, announcing that its peacekeepers rushed to the scene of the accident and were able to rescue more than a dozen passengers.

In a press release, the UN Mission confirmed that an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) spotted the boat capsizing on Lake Kivu, and promptly thereafter MONUSCO Forces engaged their assets to save the passengers.

“Following the engagement of three boats and two helicopters of MONUSCO, 14 passengers were rescued alive from the waters of the lake. One was already dead and at least 10 people are still missing,” said the press release, adding that the rescued passengers were taken to a MONUSCO medical facility.

Martin Kobler, Head of MONUSCO, deplored loss of lives in the shipwreck, saying, “my thoughts are with the families of the victims and those still missing, we all share their sorrow.”