A tragic river incident has claimed the lives of over 140 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after a packed passenger vessel went up in flames and capsized earlier this week.
The accident occurred near Mbandaka in Equateur Province, where a wooden boat, reportedly carrying hundreds of people, caught fire mid-journey on the Congo River. Initial reports suggest the blaze began when a cooking fire onboard accidentally ignited fuel stored nearby.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene as flames consumed the boat far from the riverbank, while those onboard scrambled for safety. “It started with a small fire, but it quickly turned into an inferno,” said one local leader. Videos shared online showed smoke rising from the charred remains of the vessel as bystanders watched from smaller boats.
Rescue teams have so far recovered more than 140 bodies, some severely burned. Officials on the ground fear the death toll could rise, with dozens still unaccounted for. Survivors are currently receiving treatment at local hospitals, while families continue to search for missing relatives.
“This tragedy could have been avoided,” said Josephine-Pacifique Lokumu, a government representative from the region. “We need stricter safety protocols on these vessels. Fuel should never be stored near open flames.”
The Congo River, often used for travel due to limited road infrastructure, has seen numerous deadly accidents in recent years. A lack of passenger manifests and poor enforcement of transport regulations frequently hampers rescue operations.
In the past few years alone, several fatal boat incidents have rocked the region—including a 2019 shipwreck on Lake Kivu that killed nearly 100 people and more recent accidents in 2023 that claimed dozens of lives.
Authorities are urging immediate reforms in river transport safety and calling for accountability in the aftermath of this latest disaster.
