At least 193 people died in two separate boat accidents that occurred within 24 hours in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Equateur province, authorities confirmed. The deadly incidents took place on September 10 and September 11, approximately 150 kilometers apart in the northwestern region of the country.
The first accident occurred on September 10 when a motorized boat capsized in the Basankusu territory of Equateur province, killing at least 86 people. Most of the victims were students, according to state media reports. Several people remain missing from this incident, though authorities have not provided an exact figure.
State media attributed the first accident to “improper loading and night navigation,” citing reports from the scene. Images from the area showed villagers gathered around bodies as they mourned the victims. A local civil society group blamed the government for the accident and claimed the actual death toll was higher than officially reported.
The second and more devastating incident occurred on September 11 when a whaleboat with nearly 500 passengers caught fire and capsized along the Congo River in the province’s Lukolela territory. The vessel was traveling near the village of Malange when the accident occurred in the evening hours. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed that 107 people died in this incident.
Rescue teams managed to save 209 survivors from the second accident, but 146 people remain missing. Search operations continued into Friday, with naval personnel and community volunteers combing the riverbanks. Authorities pledged to provide medical care for the injured, assistance to bereaved families, and help repatriate survivors to their places of origin and destination.
The cause of the fire that led to the second boat’s capsizing remains unclear. Authorities have not determined whether rescue operations were continuing as of Friday evening. A memo from the Ministry of Social Affairs, reviewed by Reuters, detailed the scope of the missing persons from the Thursday incident.
These accidents highlight the ongoing transportation challenges in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where river transport serves as a lifeline in vast rainforest regions. Old wooden vessels provide the main form of transport between villages, often chosen over the few available roads because of lower costs.
However, these vessels are poorly maintained and frequently crumble under the weight of passengers and their goods. Life jackets are rare on such journeys, and the boats are usually overloaded with people and cargo. Many vessels also travel at night, which complicates rescue efforts during accidents and often leaves bodies unaccounted for.
Rescue operations face additional challenges due to limited resources and the remote locations where accidents typically occur. The nocturnal nature of many boat journeys further hampers emergency response efforts when disasters strike.
Boat capsizing incidents have become increasingly frequent in the central African nation. More people are abandoning the limited road infrastructure in favor of cheaper wooden vessels for transportation between communities. The boats often operate beyond their safe capacity limits, carrying both passengers and commercial goods.
In recent years, Congolese officials have warned against the practice of overloading boats and vowed to punish those who violate safety measures for water transportation. Despite these warnings, violations continue as many residents in remote areas cannot afford alternative transportation options on the few available roads.
The country has experienced multiple deadly boat accidents in recent months. Last year, more than 80 people died when a boat carrying over 270 passengers capsized on a river near Kinshasa, the capital city. In December, an overcrowded boat capsized on the Fimi River, killing at least 25 people and leaving dozens missing.
River transport remains crucial for Congo’s more than 100 million people, particularly in remote areas where infrastructure is poor or nonexistent. The Congo River and its tributaries serve as primary transportation corridors for communities throughout the nation’s interior regions.
Search teams supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities continued looking for missing persons from both accidents. Local hospitals treated survivors with burn injuries from the second incident, while temporary shelters housed those who lost their belongings in the disasters.
