Hope of finding more L. Kivu boat victims diminishes

RUTSIRO - One week after the fatal boat accident on Lake Kivu that claimed 20 lives, experts have expressed fear that bodies which have not been recovered up to now might never be. The latest body to be retrieved is that of Alex Niyibizi, the former assistant district education director which brings the total number of recovered bodies to 15. Water transport and marine experts have said that after a certain period of time, bodies may fail to show up. “A dead body may carry a lot of external weight or get stuck between stones, and after some days, may rupture under water. In this case, it might never be recovered,” a marine expert who preferred anonymity said. Police, set up a team to investigate the cause of the accident and the report is yet to be released. “I hope the findings will be out soon,” Police spokesperson Eric Kayiranga, said yesterday by telephone. Several bodies, including one policeman and top district officials; Felicien Nsigaye, the district’s Finance Director and Jean Marie Vianney Bitwarimana, the procurement officer at the district, are still missing. The boat was en route to Nyamunini Island, where a ceremony to commemorate the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was scheduled to take place. Ends

National

Hope of finding more L. Kivu boat victims diminishes