DR Congo: Over 190 Dead, Dozens Missing in Devastating Boat Accidents
DR Congo: Over 190 Dead, Dozens Missing in Devastating Boat Accidents
Rescue teams are intensifying efforts in northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following two separate boat accidents earlier this week that have claimed at least 193 lives, with dozens still reported missing. The catastrophic incidents occurred on Wednesday and Thursday in the Equateur province, approximately 150km apart.
One vessel, carrying nearly 500 passengers, caught fire and capsized on Thursday evening along the Congo River in Lukolela territory. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed 107 fatalities and 209 survivors, though a Ministry of Social Affairs memo indicates 146 people remain unaccounted for.
A day earlier, a motorized boat capsized in the Basankusu territory, resulting in the deaths of at least 86 people, many of whom were students. Reports indicate several individuals are missing from this incident as well. The causes of both accidents are under investigation, though initial reports for Wednesday’s tragedy cite improper loading and night navigation.
River transport is a critical but perilous lifeline in the DRC’s vast regions, where poorly maintained and overloaded vessels, often lacking life jackets, are common. Rescue operations, frequently hampered by limited resources and remote locations, are continuing to search for survivors and recover victims from these devastating accidents.
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