143 Die in DR Congo Boat Fire
At least 143 people died and dozens more went missing after a boat carrying fuel caught fire and capsized in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said Friday.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – At least 143 people died and dozens more are feared missing after a boat carrying fuel caught fire and capsized on a lake in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said Friday.
The tragic incident occurred earlier this week on Lake Mai-Ndombe in the western province of Mai-Ndombe, according to provincial authorities.
The vessel, reportedly overloaded with passengers and barrels of fuel, caught fire before overturning. As of Friday, recovery efforts had retrieved 143 bodies from the lake.
Provincial officials confirmed the death toll and stated that search operations were ongoing, but the exact number of people onboard when the disaster struck remains unclear, making it difficult to ascertain the final number of missing. Fears are high that the death toll could rise significantly.
Boat accidents are frequent in the vast Central African nation, where waterways are critical for transport due to poor road infrastructure. These incidents are often caused by overloading, the poor state of vessels, and a lack of adherence to safety regulations. The transport of flammable materials like fuel alongside passengers is a common and particularly dangerous practice.
Local authorities and emergency services are coordinating rescue and recovery operations, though efforts are challenged by the remote location. An investigation into the exact cause of the fire and the circumstances leading to the capsizing has been launched.
The tragedy underscores the ongoing risks faced by travelers on the DRC’s busy waterways and is one of the country’s deadliest boat accidents in recent years.
