KINSHASA, Congo — The tragic incident involving a boat on the Congo River earlier this week has seen the death toll climb to 148 as authorities continue to search for more than 100 people who remain missing. Officials report that the boat was carrying approximately 500 passengers when it met with calamity.
The disaster struck on Tuesday when the wooden vessel caught fire and subsequently capsized in the northwest region of the country. This accident has resulted in significant loss of life, with dozens more individuals unaccounted for.
According to river commissioner Compétent Loyoko, the fire erupted while a woman was cooking aboard the boat. As panic ensued, many passengers, including women and children, drowned after jumping into the river, unable to swim to safety.
Rescue operations led by the Red Cross and local authorities have managed to save several individuals, although numerous survivors have suffered severe burn injuries. The ongoing efforts to locate the missing continue to be a priority.
The vessel, identified as the HB Kongolo, was en route from Matankumu port to Bolomba territory when it caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, Loyoko explained. The scale of the tragedy is immense, with Senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili from Equateur province confirming the dire need for humanitarian aid for over 150 survivors with critical injuries.
Boat accidents are, unfortunately, a common occurrence in Congo, exacerbated by factors such as overcrowded vessels and nighttime travel. Due to ineffective enforcement of maritime regulations, these types of incidents prevail.
Rivers remain a critical transportation route in Congo, a country of over 100 million people. With poorly developed infrastructure, particularly in remote regions, the dependence on river transport is significant. Tragically, this reliance has led to numerous fatalities in marine accidents over recent years, as individuals favor wooden boats loaded with passengers and cargo over limited road networks.
“Our beautiful Congo River and our abundant lakes have turned into vast graveyards for the Congolese people. This situation cannot be tolerated,” remarked Senator Bofili, reflecting on the recurrent maritime tragedies.