Boat carrying hundreds of passengers capsized in Goa? What Cops Said in Viral Video | World News

A user on

“Accident of an overloaded steamship in Goa today. 40 people rescued, 64 missing and 23 bodies recovered. Boat owner’s greed led to this accident (sic),” the user wrote on X.

As the post went viral, the Goa Police swung into action and clarified that the incident did not take place in the state.

“A video circulating on social media claims that a boat capsized near the Goa coast. That's wrong. The incident occurred in Goma, Congo, Africa,” authorities said in a statement.

The Goa Police also asked people not to share unverified news.

Boat accident in Congo

At least 78 people died when an overloaded passenger ship capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo on Thursday. The search is ongoing for several others who are still missing. There were probably 278 people on board the boat.

The boat sank as it tried to dock just meters from Kituku harbor, according to witnesses who saw rescue workers recover at least 50 bodies from the water.

It was the latest fatal boat accident in the Central African country, where overcrowding is often the cause. Shipping regulations are also often not followed.

The government has issued frequent warnings and threats over overloading and violations of water transportation safety standards. But in remote areas, where most passengers come from, many cannot afford public transport due to few available roads.

“We will establish responsibilities and introduce a sanctions regime, but also recommendations to improve navigation on the lake,” Jean-Jacques Purusi, governor of South Kivu province, told the Associated Press.

He added that a lack of proper equipment – there were no life jackets on the ship – as well as overcrowding and negligence likely contributed to the tragedy. There was also a strong storm in the lake area in the morning, he added.