At least 30 people have died after two boats collided on the Congo River in the Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local authorities.
The accident occurred on Sunday evening near the Ngombe-Lukolela area as two motorised wooden boats were travelling along the river. One vessel was travelling from Ubangi towards Kinshasa, while the other was travelling from Kinshasa towards Lukolela.
Provincial Interior Minister Crispin Mputu said the cause of the collision was not immediately known. However, he noted that travelling on the river at night has contributed to several accidents in the past.
An eyewitness from the security forces said one of the boats appeared to have been overloaded with goods before the collision. The impact caused the vessel to sink, leaving passengers trapped underwater.
Authorities said the bodies of at least 30 victims had been recovered and buried, while search-and-rescue operations are continuing for people still missing. The exact number of missing passengers was not immediately available.
Boat accidents are common in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in remote areas where river transportation is an important means of movement and trade. Overcrowded vessels, poor maintenance, limited safety equipment and nighttime navigation have frequently been identified as factors behind fatal accidents.
The latest tragedy has again raised concerns about safety standards on the country’s waterways. Many communities depend heavily on boats because roads and other transport infrastructure remain limited in parts of the country.
The authorities are expected to continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision and the ongoing search for missing passengers.
