Congo boat disaster death toll rises to 148, with more than 100 still missing

Officials reported on Friday that the death toll from a boat fire and sinking in the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this week has increased to 148, with over 100 individuals still unaccounted for.

Approximately 500 passengers were aboard the wooden vessel when it overturned on Tuesday after igniting on the Congo River in the country’s north-western region.

The disaster occurred when a fire broke out as someone was preparing food on the ship, stated Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner. Numerous passengers, among them women and children, lost their lives after leaping into the water despite lacking swimming skills.

Many were rescued, but a number of the survivors suffered severe burns. The hunt for the missing involved rescue crews aided by the Red Cross and local officials. The wooden boat with a motor caught fire close to the town of Mbandaka, according to Loyoko. The vessel, HB Kongolo, departed from the Matankumu harbor heading towards the Bolomba region.

“The death toll among the 500 passengers on board was extremely high,” said senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili on Friday. “As we speak, more than 150 survivors suffering from third-degree burns are without humanitarian assistance.”

Deadly boat accidents are common in the central African country, where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often blamed. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations.