A horrific tragedy unfolded on the Congo River this week, leaving at least 148 people dead and hundreds more missing after a motorized wooden boat caught fire and capsized. Initial reports from local officials, as cited by various news outlets, paint a grim picture of a vessel overloaded with passengers – as many as 500, including women and children – when disaster struck on Tuesday.
The boat, named HB Kongolo, was traveling from the port of Matankumu to Bolomba territory when the fire erupted near the town of Mbandaka. According to the river commissioner, speaking to the Associated Press, the fire started when a woman was cooking on board. The ensuing chaos led to many passengers jumping into the river, many of whom could not swim and perished. The death toll, initially estimated at 50, has tragically risen to at least 148, with the true number likely far higher given the number of missing.
This devastating incident highlights the precarious conditions faced by many communities relying on aging, overcrowded water transport in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The use of old, wooden boats often exceeding their capacity is a common practice, making such accidents a tragically recurring event. The region has seen several similar disasters in recent years, with a 2024 incident on Lake Kivu resulting in at least 78 drownings and another river boat sinking in December claiming at least 22 lives.
Approximately 100 survivors were taken to a makeshift shelter at the local town hall, while those with burn injuries received treatment at nearby hospitals. The scale of the tragedy is immense, leaving a community grappling with immense loss and the agonizing uncertainty surrounding the fate of the missing. This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for improved safety standards and reliable transportation options in the region.
