Written By Lisa Murimi
At least 148 people have been confirmed dead after a wooden motorised boat carrying around 500 passengers capsized on the Congo River earlier this week, officials confirmed on Friday.
The boat, named HB Kongolo, caught fire and overturned near Mbandaka on Tuesday after departing from Matankumu, en route to Bolomba.
Survivors said the fire started when a woman cooking onboard accidentally sparked the blaze.
Local authorities say the vessel was dangerously overcrowded, with women and children among those on board.
Many of the victims drowned after jumping into the river, unable to swim.
Over 100 survivors have been rescued, with some receiving treatment for burn injuries in nearby hospitals, while others were taken to an improvised shelter at the local town hall.
Boating accidents are tragically common in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where aging wooden boats often serve as the only means of transport between remote riverine communities.
These vessels are frequently overloaded and lack safety equipment.
Authorities fear the death toll could rise further, with hundreds still missing.
The government has yet to issue an official statement but rescue operations are ongoing amid calls for stricter enforcement of river safety regulations.
