Kinshasa: A devastating boating accident on the Congo River has left at least 148 people dead after a wooden, motorized vessel caught fire and capsized, according to reports from local officials.
The boat, known as HB Kongolo, was carrying around 500 passengers—many of them women and children—when the disaster occurred on Tuesday in the northwest region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Authorities say the boat had departed from the port of Matankumu and was en route to the Bolomba territory when it caught fire near the town of Mbandaka.
An initial death toll had estimated 50 fatalities, but the confirmed number has since risen significantly, with officials warning that hundreds remain unaccounted for.
Sky News reported that approximately 100 survivors have been relocated to a temporary shelter at the local town hall, while those suffering from burns are receiving treatment in nearby hospitals.
According to Compétent Loyoko, the local river commissioner, the fire reportedly began when a woman was cooking aboard the overcrowded vessel. Panic ensued, with many passengers jumping into the river despite not knowing how to swim, leading to further casualties.
Boat accidents are tragically frequent in the region, largely due to the use of outdated wooden boats, which are often overloaded beyond safe capacity.
This latest tragedy follows a string of similar incidents, including one in 2024 on Lake Kivu that claimed 78 lives, and another in western Congo in December, where 22 people died when a riverboat sank.
