The death toll from a boat fire and capsizing on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 148, with more than 100 people still missing, officials confirmed on Friday. The wooden vessel, carrying approximately 500 passengers, caught fire and capsized on Tuesday near the town of Mbandaka in the country's north-west.
The tragedy began when a fire started during onboard cooking, according to river commissioner Compétent Loyoko. Many passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim. Dozens were rescued, but numerous survivors suffered severe burns.
The motorised wooden boat, named HB Kongolo, had departed from the port of Matankumu en route to Bolomba territory. Senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili described the death toll as 'extremely high' and noted that over 150 survivors with third-degree burns were without humanitarian assistance.
Search efforts involved rescue teams supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities. Deadly boat accidents are common in the central African country, often attributed to late-night travel and overcrowded vessels. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations.
Congo's rivers serve as a primary means of transport for its population of over 100 million, particularly in remote areas with limited infrastructure. Hundreds have died in boat accidents in recent years as more people rely on wooden vessels packed with passengers and goods. Senator Bofili lamented, 'Our magnificent Congo River and the lakes our country abounds in have become huge cemeteries for the Congolese people. This is unacceptable.'
