KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo — The death toll from a river boat accident in western Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to at least 29, with at least 128 survivors identified and an unknown number still missing, local authorities reported on Thursday.
The accident occurred Sunday night when a boat carrying between 250 and 300 passengers capsized after striking submerged tree trunks in a river within the Kutu territory. Rescue efforts have been ongoing for days as authorities grapple with the full extent of the tragedy.
Jacques Nzeza, the Kutu territory administrator, told Reuters by phone, “Overloading and navigating at night in contravention of the rules are seen as the causes of this tragedy.” Nzeza confirmed that among the 29 known fatalities were 15 women and one child.
The exact number of missing individuals remains unclear due to uncertainty about the total number of passengers on board and the fact that some survivors left the scene immediately after the accident before they could be counted, Nzeza added.
Fidele Lizoringo, head of a local civil society group, reported that fishermen had spotted an additional four bodies floating in the river but were unable to recover them. Lizoringo stated that 152 survivors had been registered, a figure slightly higher than the official count.
This incident highlights the persistent dangers of river travel in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a vast country with limited paved road infrastructure. Boat accidents are common, often due to vessels being loaded far beyond their intended capacity.
Source: Reuters
