At least 28 individuals lost their lives in a devastating boat capsize incident on the Congo River in Equateur province, as reported by local authorities on Sunday.
The ill-fated boat had embarked on its journey from Ngondo, a location situated approximately 74 miles (120 kilometers) from the provincial capital, Mbandaka. Tragically, it met with disaster on Saturday night when it crashed in Bolomba village, as revealed by Didon Ifete, the territory’s administrator, during a state radio broadcast.
Approximately 200 passengers were successfully rescued, but an unknown number remained unaccounted for, he noted.
This unfortunate incident marked the second boat wreck on the Congo River in Equateur province within the span of a week. Just a few days earlier, on October 14, another boat capsized, resulting in the loss of at least 47 lives and the disappearance of over 70 others.
The Congo River and the nation’s lakes are frequently marred by boating mishaps, primarily due to the widespread use of makeshift boats that are often overloaded. In the absence of reliable roads and due to cost considerations, a significant portion of the population in the northwest of the country relies on river travel as a primary mode of transportation.
In an attempt to prevent such accidents, the Congolese government has enforced a nationwide ban on nighttime river travel. However, many individuals continue to defy this directive.