The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) authorities announced on Friday (September 12) that two boat accidents occurred earlier this week in the northwest of the country, resulting in at least 193 deaths and dozens of people missing.
The accidents took place on Wednesday and Thursday, about 150 kilometers apart, both in the Equateur province.
The Congolese Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs reported that on Thursday night, a large wooden canoe carrying nearly 500 passengers caught fire and capsized on the Congo River near Malange village in the Lukolela area.
A total of 209 passengers were rescued, but at least 107 people were confirmed dead, and many more are missing, with search and rescue efforts ongoing.
The day before, a motorboat capsized in the Basankusu area of the Equateur province, resulting in at least 86 deaths, most of whom were students. State media reported that several people are still missing, but specific numbers were not provided.
The exact causes of the two incidents are currently unknown, and it is unclear if rescue operations were still ongoing on Friday night.
State media cited on-site reports indicating that Wednesday’s accident was due to “improper loading and nighttime navigation.” Images from the scene showed villagers mourning next to the bodies.
A local civil society group blamed the government for Wednesday’s accident, claiming a higher death toll. The authorities have not yet been able to provide an immediate response.
In this Central African country, boat overturning accidents are increasingly common. With few accessible roads, more people opt for cheap wooden boats, which often capsize due to overcrowding with passengers and cargo.
During these journeys, there are hardly any life jackets on board, and vessels are typically heavily overloaded.
Many boats also navigate at night, making rescue operations more challenging during accidents and resulting in many victims’ bodies being difficult to locate.
(This article referenced relevant reports from The Associated Press)