A boat capsize in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on June 10 has resulted in the tragic loss of 86 lives. The incident took place on the Kwa River in Mai-Ndombe province, about 43 miles away from Mushie, the nearest city.
President Felix Tshisekedi shared the unfortunate news and offered his condolences to the victims’ families and friends. “The President of the Republic is calling for an investigation into the true causes of this incident to prevent such a disaster from happening again in the future,” read a statement from the presidential office, as posted on X. The statement further informed that President Tshisekedi has instructed authorities to provide immediate aid to the affected.
The governor of Mai-Ndombe province, Rita Bola Dula, reported that the boat capsized due to night sailing. “We are in the process of extracting the survivors and other bodies,” informed Dula in an interaction with Reuters. Investigations are currently underway to ascertain the specific reasons behind the disaster.
The ill-fated boat, ferrying 271 passengers to Kinshasa, the capital, capsized late Monday night owing to engine failure. It subsequently collided with the river bank and fell apart. As per Ren Maker, the water commissioner in the Mushie district, 86 passengers succumbed to their injuries, while 185 were able to swim to the shore.
This tragic event brings to the forefront the persistent problem of fatal boat accidents in the DRC, often caused by overloading beyond the vessel’s capacity. With few paved roads available, river travel is a widespread mode of transportation across the vast, forest-covered country.
In the past few years, overloading has been a primary cause of numerous boat accidents in the DRC. In February, an overloaded boat sank, claiming dozens of lives. Congolese officials have frequently cautioned against such practices and pledged to implement safety regulations for water transport.
The presidency’s statement further expressed condolences for the victims’ families and stressed the importance of preventive actions. As the nation grieves the loss of many lives, the attention now turns to preventing such incidents in the future.
Efforts are being made to assist the survivors and support the affected families. Local authorities are tirelessly working to recover and identify the bodies of the victims. “We are committed to uncovering the true causes of this incident and ensuring the safety of river travel in our province,” stated Governor Dula.
Given the geographical and infrastructural challenges in the DRC, river travel is a necessity for many residents. However, the frequent occurrence of such accidents raises important questions about the safety standards and regulatory measures in place.
