Tragic Capsizing on Congo River Leaves Over 50 Dead and Hundreds Missing
A devastating boating accident on the Congo River has led to at least 50 fatalities and hundreds missing, according to Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner. The motorized wooden boat, carrying approximately 400 passengers, caught fire near the town of Mbandaka late Tuesday night before capsizing. Dozens of survivors suffered severe burns, and a search for the missing continued with the assistance of rescue teams, the Red Cross, and local authorities.
The boat, identified as the HB Kongolo, had embarked from the port of Matankumu heading toward Bolomba territory. Loyoko reported that the fire ignited while a woman was cooking on board. Many passengers, including women and children, drowned after jumping into the river, unable to swim.
Deadly accidents have become commonplace in the Republic of Congo, attributed to overcrowded vessels and late-night travel. Despite the significance of rivers for transportation among the nation’s over 100 million people, enforcement of maritime regulations has been lacking, contributing to the frequency of such tragic incidents.
Congo