A violent collision between two boats on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in at least 30 deaths, with dozens more reported missing. The incident occurred late Sunday evening near the Ngombe-Lukolela area in Equateur province, located in the northwest of the country.
Officials confirmed the accident on Monday, stating that search-and-rescue operations are currently underway to locate those still unaccounted for. According to Crispin Mputu, the interior minister of Equateur province, the crash involved a metal vessel named “Dieu se cache,” traveling from the capital Kinshasa, and a wooden boat called “HB Super Victoire,” which was arriving from Businga.
“Almost all the passengers on board were trapped underwater, and the boat itself also sank,” Mputu told the state-owned Agence Congolaise Presse. He added that the victims who perished in the incident have already been buried.
The exact cause of the crash remains unknown, but Mputu highlighted that many accidents occur due to boats operating at night. A security officer who witnessed the event told The Associated Press that the vessel from Kinshasa appeared to be overloaded with cargo.
Boating tragedies are a recurring crisis in the DR Congo, where overcrowded vessels and late-night navigation are frequently cited as primary factors. Compounding these risks are poor safety standards and inadequate infrastructure in remote regions. This disaster follows another fatal incident in July, when a wooden boat carrying students back from state exams sank in Kasai province, killing at least 20 people.
Thirty confirmed dead and dozens missing… the scale of this is heartbreaking. Sending thoughts to the families.
How many more lives must be lost before safety regulations are actually enforced on the Congo River?
Devastating. Overcrowding and night navigation seem to be the usual suspects here, which makes this even more tragic.