At least 50 people have died and hundreds remain missing after a wooden boat caught fire and capsized on the Congo River in the northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The tragic incident occurred late Tuesday night near the town of Mbandaka after the boat, carrying around 400 passengers, departed from Matankumu port en route to Bolomba territory.
Authorities say the fire began while someone was cooking onboard, causing panic among passengers. Many, including women and children, jumped into the river in an attempt to escape but drowned due to an inability to swim. Approximately 100 survivors were rescued and taken to an improvised shelter at the Mbandaka town hall, with many suffering severe burns.
Rescue operations, supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities, are still underway as the search for missing passengers continues. The accident highlights the ongoing transportation crisis in the DRC, where poor infrastructure forces people to rely on overcrowded and unsafe river vessels.
Deadly boat accidents are common in the region due to overloaded wooden boats, inadequate safety measures, and a lack of emergency preparedness. In December, a ferry capsizing on a northeastern river claimed at least 38 lives. Another incident in October on Lake Kivu led to the deaths of 78 people.
The latest tragedy underscores the urgent need for improved transport safety standards in the DRC, where river travel remains a lifeline for many remote communities.
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