A devastating boating disaster has left at least 50 people dead and hundreds more missing after a crowded vessel caught fire and capsized on the Congo River.
The incident occurred late Tuesday evening, April 15, near the town of Mbandaka in the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, NBC News has reported.
The motorized wooden boat — identified as the HB Kongolo — was carrying around 400 passengers when the blaze broke out mid-journey, according to river commissioner Compétent Loyoko.
Loyoko told AP that the fire began when a woman onboard was cooking. Video shared by local outlets showed thick smoke engulfing the boat as bystanders watched helplessly from shore, PEOPLE adds.
The vessel had departed from the port of Matankumu and was headed toward Bolomba territory when the tragedy unfolded.
In a desperate attempt to escape the flames, many passengers, including women and children, leapt into the river. But many of them couldn’t swim. According to Loyoko, several drowned trying to escape the fire, while others who survived were left with severe burns.
At least 100 survivors were transported to the Mbandaka town hall, where a makeshift shelter has been set up. Those with injuries were rushed to local hospitals for treatment.
Search and rescue efforts began early Wednesday, April 16, with teams from the Red Cross and local authorities scouring the river for the missing. As of now, hundreds remain unaccounted for.
This is not the first such tragedy in the region. Deadly boat accidents are tragically frequent in DR Congo, where late-night travel, poor safety standards, and overcrowding are widespread. Authorities have long struggled to enforce maritime safety regulations.
Just months earlier, in December 2024, 38 people died and over 100 were reported missing when a ferry capsized in the Busira River. And in October of the same year, another horrific incident claimed the lives of at least 78 passengers from a boat carrying 278 people.
For much of the population in DR Congo—particularly in rural or remote areas where roads are few or nonexistent—rivers are a primary mode of transport. The Congo River, one of the world's largest, is both a lifeline and a dangerous passage for millions.
Officials continue to monitor the situation and provide emergency aid, but the disaster once again highlights the urgent need for better safety enforcement on Congo’s waterways.