Kinshasa, April 19: A catastrophic fire that broke out on a fuel-laden boat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed at least 148 people, with scores still missing, in what is being described as one of the deadliest river transport disasters in the country’s history.
According to AFP, the tragedy unfolded earlier this week on the Congo River near Mbandaka, in the northwestern province of Equateur, when a wooden passenger boat — reportedly carrying nearly 500 people — caught fire and capsized. Local officials said the fire started after a woman onboard lit embers to cook food, inadvertently igniting containers of fuel stored nearby.
Josephine Pacific Lokomo, head of the regional delegation of national parliamentarians, confirmed that the blaze began on Tuesday night, and by Wednesday morning, 131 charred bodies had been recovered. By Friday, the death toll had risen to 148 as more bodies were retrieved downstream.
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The vessel, known as the HB Kongolo, was overcrowded and lacked proper safety measures — a common issue with water transport in the DRC, where road infrastructure is severely underdeveloped and air travel remains limited to a handful of urban centers. As a result, many Congolese people rely heavily on rivers for travel and transportation (Source: AP News).
Eyewitnesses and survivors recounted the horror as the fire rapidly spread, engulfing the boat in flames. Many passengers, including women and children, either burned to death or drowned while trying to escape. Videos circulating on social media show massive flames and thick smoke rising from the boat, while desperate passengers leap into the water in panic (Sources: BBC, Social Media).
Joseph Nzeza, a local civil society leader who helped in the burial of victims, said, “Some bodies were burned beyond recognition, others drowned. It was a heartbreaking sight. Entire families have been wiped out” (Source: Local Reports via AFP).
As per AP News, some survivors were rescued and admitted to hospitals in Mbandaka, while others are being treated at temporary shelters. However, many families continue to wait in anguish, clinging to hope for news of missing loved ones.
According to Reuters, the Red Cross and local authorities have launched rescue and recovery operations, but progress remains slow due to difficult river conditions and a lack of emergency infrastructure.
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Senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili of Equateur Province condemned the ongoing neglect of waterway safety and told AFP, “Our magnificent Congo River and the lakes that sustain our people have turned into cemeteries. This is unacceptable. We need stronger regulation and enforcement.”
According to Al Jazeera, deadly boat accidents are unfortunately common in the DRC, often caused by overloading, unsafe onboard practices, and the absence of life-saving equipment. Despite repeated tragedies, safety enforcement remains weak and systemic issues persist.
As investigations continue, the Congolese government faces mounting pressure to overhaul its transport safety protocols and prevent such avoidable disasters in the future.
