Congo Boat Fire
At least 148 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds remain missing after a wooden passenger boat caught fire and capsized on the Congo River, according to local officials and media reports on Friday.
The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday in the northwestern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the town of Mbandaka.
The vessel, identified as HB Kongolo, had departed from the port of Matankumu en route to the Bolomba territory. It was reportedly carrying around 500 passengers, including women and children, when a fire broke out mid-journey.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the blaze began when a woman attempted to cook on board, triggering a rapid and deadly fire.
As the flames engulfed the boat, panic ensued among passengers, many of whom leapt into the river to escape. Sadly, a significant number of those who jumped into the water were unable to swim, leading to a high death toll.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as people struggled to escape both the fire and the strong river currents.
Local officials initially estimated the death toll at 50, but that number was revised to at least 148 as recovery efforts continued. With hundreds still unaccounted for, authorities fear the final toll could be even higher.
Around 100 survivors have been rescued and are being housed at an improvised shelter at the local town hall. Those with serious burn injuries have been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Boating accidents are tragically common in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where wooden boats serve as a primary mode of transportation between remote villages. These vessels are often poorly maintained and dangerously overcrowded, lacking basic safety equipment or emergency preparedness.
This latest disaster follows several similar incidents in recent years. In 2024, 78 people drowned when a boat capsized in Lake Kivu, and another 22 perished in December when a riverboat sank in western Congo.
Authorities are now facing renewed pressure to enforce stricter regulations on river transport to prevent further tragedies.
