At least 148 people have been confirmed dead after a motorized wooden boat caught fire and capsized in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local officials cited by media reports on Friday.
The boat was carrying as many as 500 passengers, including women and children, when it overturned in the Congo River located in the country’s northwest region on Tuesday, as per the reports.
Overcrowded Vessels, Frequent Accidents
Deadly boat accidents are frequent in the central African country, where overcrowded wooden vessels and late-night travel are common, and authorities struggle to enforce maritime regulations. With limited road infrastructure, many turn to river transport, leading to hundreds of deaths in recent years.
Officials estimate hundreds of people to still be missing, the reports added. The number of dead was previously estimated at 50.
The boat, called HB Kongolo, caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, having left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory.
About 100 survivors were taken to an improvised shelter at the local town hall, while those with burn injuries were taken to local hospitals, Sky News reported.
Cooking On Board Turns Tragic
The incident occurred when a fire started as a woman was cooking on board the vessel, Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner, told the Associated Press.
Senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili of Equateur province reported that around 500 people were on board. As of Friday, he said over 150 survivors with third-degree burns remain without humanitarian aid.
Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim, the report added.
In 2024, at least 78 people drowned when a boat with 278 passengers capsized in Lake Kivu, eastern Congo. In a separate incident, at least 22 people died after a river boat sank in December in western Congo.
Rivers serve as a vital mode of transport for the country’s over 100 million people, particularly in remote regions with limited infrastructure.
(With inputs from Reuters)
