Boat Capsizes in Congo, Killing 86 People, Most of Them Students
- At least 86 people have died after a motorized boat capsized in northwestern Congo’s Equateur Province, according to state media.
- Most of the victims were students, and the accident happened in Basankusu territory on Wednesday, as reported by the state news agency.
- State media attributed the cause to ‘improper loading and night navigation.’ A local civil society group criticized the government and claimed the casualty toll was higher.
- Capsizing of boats is increasing in Congo as more people use wooden vessels, often traveling at night, making rescue efforts difficult.
According to the AP, state media reported that poor loading of the vessel, as well as the fact that the ship was sailing at night, may have contributed to the shipwreck.
Tragic boat accidents are common in Congo, with at least 148 people dying in an accident in April. The cause is often overcapacity and general non-compliance with regulations.
River transport is widely used in Congo, especially in remote areas where roads are poor or transport infrastructure is lacking. In recent years, hundreds of people have died in boat accidents in the country of more than 100 million people.
