KINSHASA — Two deadly boat accidents in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo have claimed at least 193 lives over the last week, with scores still missing, according to government reports and state media.
The most recent tragedy occurred Thursday evening when a whaleboat carrying nearly 500 passengers caught fire and capsized on the Congo River near Malange village in Lukolela territory.
Authorities confirmed 107 deaths and said 146 people remain unaccounted for. Rescue teams recovered 209 survivors, many with injuries.
Just a day earlier, a motorized canoe sank in Basankusu territory, killing at least 86 people, most of them students.
That accident was attributed to overloading and nighttime navigation, which is prohibited under Congolese law.
River transport remains a lifeline in Congo’s remote rainforest regions, but aging vessels, poor safety standards, and overcrowding have made such disasters tragically common. Rescue efforts are often hampered by limited resources and difficult terrain.