KINSHASA, Congo — A ferry loaded beyond capacity with passengers returning home for the Christmas holiday overturned on the Busira River in northeastern Congo, resulting in at least 38 confirmed fatalities and over 100 individuals still unaccounted for, according to reports from officials and witnesses on Saturday. So far, 20 people have managed to be rescued from the waters.


This tragic incident occurred late Friday, just days after another boat accident in the same region claimed the lives of 25 individuals. The ill-fated ferry was part of a convoy carrying several vessels, predominantly filled with merchants heading home for the festive season, noted Joseph Joseph Kangolingoli, serving as mayor of Ingende, the last town on the river before the accident site.


Resident Ndolo Kaddy of Ingende provided insight, stating that the ferry was likely carrying “over 400 passengers,” as it stopped at two ports—Ingende and Loolo—on the way to Boende. This suggests the possibility of even higher casualties.


Congo’s officials have repeatedly issued warnings about the dangers of overloading vessels, committing to enforce penalties against those breaching safety protocols on the waterways. Nevertheless, many residents in remote regions are unable to afford the limited public transport options available on the few existing roads.


Earlier incidents indicate an ongoing crisis: in October, 78 people drowned when an overloaded vessel sank in the eastern part of the country, and in June, a similar tragedy near Kinshasa resulted in 80 fatalities.


The recent ferry disaster has ignited public outrage toward the government for failing to provide the convoy with necessary life-saving equipment such as flotation devices. Nesty Bonina, an official in the local government and a notable figure in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur province, criticized the authorities for their inadequate response to the repeated incidents.


“How can a ship navigate at night under the watchful eye of river service agents? And now we’re recording over a hundred deaths,” Bonina remarked, expressing frustration at the lack of action.


Such accidents involving overloaded boats are becoming more common in this central African nation, as many locals increasingly opt for wooden vessels despite their precarious state, due to the insecurity and violence disrupting the few available roads.


These roads are often affected by deadly confrontations between Congolese security forces and rebel factions, causing significant disruptions and making waterways a more appealing but dangerous alternative.