A devastating boat fire and capsizing on the Congo River has claimed at least 148 lives and left hundreds more missing. The tragedy occurred when a wooden motorboat caught fire while traveling near the town of Mbandaka in northwest Congo.
According to officials, the fire started as a woman was cooking on board the vessel, Compétent Loyoko. Passengers who jumped into the water without knowing how to swim succumbed to drowning. Dozens were rescued, but many survivors suffered severe burns.
The search for missing people involved rescue teams aided by the Red Cross and provincial authorities. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations in Congo, a country where boat accidents are common due to late-night travels and overcrowded vessels.
Congo’s rivers are a primary means of transport for its 100 million people, particularly in remote areas with limited infrastructure. Boat accidents have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years as more people opt for wooden vessels carrying passengers and goods.
The tragedy has sparked outrage from authorities, with Sen. Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili describing the scene as “unacceptable.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/19/africa/mbandaka-congo-boat-capsized-intl/index.html