At least 25 dead after boat capsizes in Congo

What’s New

An overcrowded boat capsized in central Congo on Tuesday, killing at least 25 people and leaving dozens more missing, local officials confirmed.

Why It Matters

The tragedy is the latest in a string of deadly boat accidents in the central African nation, where overcrowding is a frequent issue. Lax enforcement of maritime regulations has often been cited as a common factor in these incidents.

Congolese authorities have repeatedly warned against overloading boats and pledged to crack down on those who violate water safety regulations. However, in the country’s remote regions, where most passengers originate, many are left with little choice as they cannot afford public transportation and face limited road access.

What To Know

The vessel, carrying over 100 passengers and goods, departed from the town of Inongo, northeast of the capital of Kinshasa, when it capsized a few hundred meters into its journey along the Fimi River.

What Are People Saying

David Kalemba, Inongo’s river commissioner, who confirmed a search effort is underway, said: “There was overloading at roof level and, as far as the lifeless human bodies are concerned, at least 25 have been recovered so far.”

Alex Mbumba, a local resident, described the chaos following the capsizing to The Associated Press and said the death toll remains uncertain. Mbumba said: “Among the dead are children, but it’s difficult to give an exact death toll at the moment as…the boat had a lot of passengers.”

Mbumba also called on the government to improve safety on the water, saying: “The government must act to improve safety on the waters of our province (because) navigation conditions are dangerous. “

Similar Incidents

The latest capsize is the fourth major incident in the Maï-Ndombe province this year as the ongoing crisis prompted calls for the government to equip the province with flotation devices.

In October, at least 78 individuals died after a boat capsized on Lake Kivu in the Congo.

Jean-Jacques Purusi, governor of the South Kivu province, spoke to The Associated Press at the time and reported that at least 78 people lost their lives. Witnesses had previously estimated that at least 50 people had died and 10 survivors were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Witnesses also said the overcrowded boat sank just meters from the dock as it attempted to reach the port of Kituku. The vessel had been traveling from Minova, located in South Kivu province, to Goma in North Kivu province.

Meanwhile, 80 passengers in June lost their lives when an overloaded boat sank near the capital, Kinshasa. In a similar incident in February, most of the 50 passengers aboard a wooden boat were presumed dead after it capsized on Lake Kivu.

In January, 22 people also died in a similar incident on Lake Maï-Ndombe, and in April 2023, six were killed and 64 others went missing following a boat accident on Lake Kivu.

What Happens Next

The search for the missing passengers continues, with concerns mounting that the final death toll could rise significantly.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.