DR Congo: Two separate incidents this week in DR Congo have killed at least 193 people. Dozens are missing as rescue work continues.
According to Deutsche Welle, two separate boat accidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo this week have resulted in the deaths of at least 193 people, as authorities reported on Friday. The incidents occurred on Wednesday and Thursday in the northwestern Equateur province, with the locations being approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) apart.
The first accident involved a boat that caught fire and drifted downstream, destroying its cargo and igniting 15 homes along the riverbank. Rescue operations, involving naval personnel and local community volunteers, were still ongoing on Friday.
On Wednesday, at least 86 individuals, predominantly students, lost their lives when a motorized boat capsized at the confluence of the Nsolo and Great Maringa rivers in Basankusu territory. Although several people remain missing, the exact number is unclear. Local residents managed to rescue eight survivors from the water.
The cause of the accident was attributed to “improper loading and night navigation,” which civil society activist Akula Mboyo noted is “formally prohibited.”
Boat accidents are a common occurrence in Congo, where river transport is vital due to limited public infrastructure in the expansive rainforest regions. The use of old, poorly maintained, and frequently overloaded vessels is prevalent between villages. The challenging conditions, including limited resources, remote locations, and nighttime travel despite prohibitions, complicate rescue operations.
Last year, a similar tragedy occurred when a vessel carrying hundreds of passengers sank in Lake Kivu, resulting in at least 78 fatalities.