At least 28 people lost their lives in a shipwreck that occurred on the Congo River in northwest DR Congo, and several more are reported missing. The incident took place late Friday night when a large riverboat, departing from Mbandaka and en route to the Bolomba Territory in the Equateur province, sank.
Chrispin Mputu, the interior minister for the Equateur province, confirmed the death toll, adding that the search for those still missing was ongoing. The exact number of passengers on board had not been determined as the official list had disappeared, according to Mputu.
However, a civil society organization called “Generation consiente” reported a higher death toll. Joseph Boyoko Lokondo, a leader of the organization, stated that their teams had counted up to 49 bodies, with one more recovered, bringing the total to 50 fatalities. He also noted that around 100 people were reported missing, and 20 to 30 survivors remained at the port, having lost their possessions.
The boat was carrying over 200 passengers, as well as goods and construction materials for a government program, according to Boyoko. Reports from Radio Okapi suggested that the ship may have faced difficulties due to overloading.
Moise Katumbi, an opposition leader and presidential candidate, expressed his sorrow over the tragedy. He described it as a direct consequence of a government that permits the overnight operation of dilapidated and overloaded boats.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, where practical roads are scarce, transportation frequently relies on lakes, the Congo River, and its tributaries. Shipwrecks are a common occurrence, often with a significant loss of life. In 2019, a shipwreck on Lake Kivu in the eastern part of the country claimed the lives of approximately 100 people. President Felix Tshisekedi had called for mandatory life jackets for all passengers and promised new boats, although the delivery of these boats has yet to occur.
