A fire on board a wooden boat in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 50 people dead and hundreds missing, according to authorities. The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 15, when the motorized boat HB Kongolo caught fire while carrying 400 passengers.
Eyewitnesses reported that a person cooking on the boat started the fire. Many of the passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water but were unable to swim. Dozens of survivors sustained major burns.
About 100 survivors have been taken to a temporary shelter in Mbandaka town hall for treatment. A search operation began on Wednesday, April 16, for those still unaccounted for.
Rescue teams lacked experience and preparation for emergencies, according to reports. This is not the first boating incident in DRC. In December 2024, about 38 people died after a ferry capsized, while over 100 went missing. Last October, at least 78 people died when a boat carrying 278 passengers capsized.
Source: https://people.com/at-least-50-dead-hundreds-missing-after-fire-causes-boat-to-capsize-on-late-night-river-voyage-11717160