WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — The district authority has expressed sorrow over the death of about 40 people who died in last week’s plan crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) town of Goma.

In a condolence message signed by Rubavu Mayor Celestin Twagirayezu, to family and friends, the district expressed concern about the people who died when a plane belonging to Hewa Bora Airways crashed at Birere, a Goma airport neighborhood.

"On behalf of entire residents of Rubavu district, I would like to pass my sincere condolences to families, friends and the Goma authority for an immense loss of people in a plane crash. May the good lord rest their souls in peace," the document dated April 18 reads.

While talking to reporters shortly after airing the message to his Goma counterpart, Twagirayezu said that they were committed to the cooperation and brotherhood between the two towns. He said the death was a shock not only DRC but also Rwandans especially residents of Gisenyi.

"We are brothers and we share a lot of things due to the fact that Goma and Gisenyi towns are very close to each other. We have intermarried, shared business transactions and many Rwandans work and live in Birere," he said.

He said that although Rubavu district hadn’t up to now known if there were any Rwandans involved in the accident, the authorities were still inquiring from residents to find out if there were any missing residents since bodies of the plane crash victims were beyond recognition.

The plane which is said to have missed its take-off and crashed in a populated neighborhood living over 100 people injured, also destroyed at least five houses mostly shops in the area.

Birere is located just beyond Goma airport runway. The runway used to stretch up to the neighborhood but was partially destroyed by lava from a volcanic eruption in 2002.

Hewa Bora Airways is an airline based in Barumbu, Kinshasa, and DRC It is one of Congo’s largest airlines and operates regional and domestic services. Its main base is Kinshasa International Airport.

The airline was established and started operations in 1994 with the joining together of Zaire Airlines, Zaire Express and Congo Airlines.

DRC is said to have the world’s worst aviation safety records due to the high number of plane crashes it has had in a short time.

There were eight plane crashes in the country last year, including one in the capital Kinshasa which killed more than 50 people.

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