A passenger boat caught fire and capsized late Tuesday on the Congo River, killing at least 50 people and leaving hundreds more missing, officials confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy occurred near the northwestern town of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The wooden motorized vessel, named HB Kongolo, was carrying approximately 400 passengers when it caught fire shortly after departing the port of Matankumu en route to Bolomba territory. Compétent Loyoko, river commissioner for the region, told The Associated Press that the fire appears to have started from cooking activity onboard, a common but dangerous practice on Congolese riverboats.
“Several passengers jumped into the water to escape the flames but could not swim,” Loyoko said, noting that women and children were among the victims.
About 100 survivors were rescued and taken to an emergency shelter set up at Mbandaka’s town hall. Many suffered severe burns and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Rescue efforts, supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities, continued into Wednesday in a desperate search for those still unaccounted for.
Chronic Maritime Dangers
Deadly boat accidents are tragically frequent in Congo, where the vast river network is a primary mode of transport for millions, especially in rural and underdeveloped regions. Overcrowding, poor maintenance, and lax safety enforcement routinely contribute to maritime disasters.
Nighttime voyages—often banned under national regulations—remain widespread due to economic pressures and limited transport options. Enforcement of safety standards has proven difficult in a country of over 100 million people where infrastructure gaps are particularly acute in inland regions.
Background and Context
This latest tragedy adds to a grim series of transportation-related disasters in the country. Hundreds have died in similar incidents over recent years as boats, often wooden and overfilled with cargo and passengers, navigate the treacherous currents of the Congo River and its tributaries.
The accident also comes amid broader humanitarian challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including ongoing armed conflict in the east, mineral-related unrest, and recurrent natural disasters.
Authorities have pledged to investigate the incident and provide support to survivors and the families of victims. However, calls for stricter enforcement of river transport regulations and investment in safer infrastructure continue to grow.
As the nation mourns yet another river tragedy, attention turns once again to long-standing calls for reform in the country’s overburdened and hazardous transport systems.
The US will host the official signing of a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, the State Department announced Friday.
42 thousands of secondary school students sat for state exams in rebel-held eastern Congo this week, a complicated logistical feat requiring rare cooperation between the government and M23 rebels.
Officials in Congo are hopeful that ongoing negotiations with the United States will yield a landmark investment agreement in critical minerals, alongside a peace deal with Rwanda to end a deadly rebellion in eastern Congo, by the end of June.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels issued identical statements on Wednesday pledging to pursue peace after more than a week of talks in Qatar, where violence and mutual distrust dominated the agenda.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended former President Joseph Kabila’s political party and ordered the seizure of his assets over allegations of supporting M23 rebels in the country’s conflict-ridden east.
Germany’s federal government spent over 1.2 billion euros on software, licenses and IT services in 2024, more than 25% higher than the previous year.
UFC Fight Night in Baku is underway at Baku Crystal Hall, with the main card scheduled to begin at 11:00 PM.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Minsk on Saturday to discuss Belarus–U.S. ties and regional security.
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and China Eximbank Chairman Chen Huaiyu signed a $500 million loan agreement for the telecom sector on June 21.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has outlined an ambitious vision for human settlements in space by 2040, with autonomous “space oases” on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
UFC Fight Night in Baku is underway at Baku Crystal Hall, with the main card scheduled to begin at 11:00 PM.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Minsk on Saturday to discuss Belarus–U.S. ties and regional security.
Orkhan Nazarli, Head of Azerbaijan’s State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy, held separate meetings with senior tax officials from Latvia and Montenegro during the 29th General Assembly of the Intra-European Organization of Tax Administrations (IOTA) in Baku.
The OIC's 51st ministerial session convenes in Istanbul to tackle pressing global and regional issues.
Japan has reportedly cancelled a planned high-level security meeting with the United States after Washington pressed Tokyo to increase its defense spending, according to the Financial Times.
Germany’s federal government spent over 1.2 billion euros on software, licenses and IT services in 2024, more than 25% higher than the previous year.
UFC Fight Night in Baku is underway at Baku Crystal Hall, with the main card scheduled to begin at 11:00 PM.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Minsk on Saturday to discuss Belarus–U.S. ties and regional security.
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and China Eximbank Chairman Chen Huaiyu signed a $500 million loan agreement for the telecom sector on June 21.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has outlined an ambitious vision for human settlements in space by 2040, with autonomous “space oases” on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment