Fact Check: Viral video of boat capsizing is from Congo, not Goa
A video is circulating on social media claiming to show a deadly boat accident in Goa.
By Sibahathulla Sakib Published on 6 Oct 2024 3:09 PM IST
Claim: The video shows a boat accident in Goa that killed 23 people.
Fact: The claim is false. The video is of a boat capsizing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hyderabad: A video showing an overcrowded boat capsizing at sea has gone viral, with social media users claiming it captured a tragic accident in Goa.
A Facebook user shared the video and wrote: āGoa accident today, 23 bodies recovered, 40 people rescued, and 64 missing. The greed of the boat owner and the overconfidence of the travellers has led to this very sad and tragic event.ā
Similar posts can be seen here and here.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false.
A reverse image search led us to a video published on the YouTube channel of Associated Press titled, āVideo shows moment boat sinks in eastern Congo, killing at least 78,ā dated October 4, 2024.
The visuals in the report closely resembled the viral video. This 35-second video showed an overcrowded boat gradually overturning taking all occupants into the water.
We found a report by Al Jazeera titled, āBoat capsizes in the Democratic Republic of Congo,ā dated October 3, 2024. The report stated that the video captured the moment a boat with many passengers overturned on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo. According to witnesses, at least 50 people lost their lives.
We also found a video on KBC Digital titled, āAt least 78 people dead after an overloaded boat capsized in Lake Kivu, DRC,ā published on October 4, 2024. The report featured visuals identical to the viral video.
We also compared the keyframes of the viral video with the report and found similarities.
Additionally, we found a Reuters article titled, ā78 drown after boat capsizes in Congoās Lake Kivu, provincial governor says,ā published on October 4, 2024.
As per the report, the governor of North Kivu province confirmed 58 survivors and at least 28 deaths. The boat capsized around 700 meters from the port and the cause of the accident is being investigated. Overcrowding is a known issue in Congolese waters, often leading to such tragedies.
The Goa Police also issued an official statement on X, confirming that the viral video is not from Goa but Congo.
Hence, the claim that the video shows a boat accident in Goa is false. The footage is from a recent accident in Congo, where an overloaded boat capsized on Lake Kivu, leading to numerous casualties.
