A devastating boat collision on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Equateur province has claimed at least 30 lives, with dozens of passengers still reported missing. The incident occurred on Sunday evening near the Ngombe-Lukolela area, prompting an immediate search-and-rescue operation.
Crispin Mputu, the interior minister for Equateur province, informed the Agence Congolaise Presse that the crash involved two vessels. A metal boat identified as ‘Dieu se cache,’ which had departed from the capital city of Kinshasa, collided with a wooden vessel named ‘HB Super Victoire,’ traveling from Businga. Following the impact, the boat from Kinshasa reportedly sank, trapping nearly all of its passengers underwater. According to two vessels crashed into one another as they navigated the Congo river, officials, On Monday. It is unclear what caused the crash.
While the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, officials highlighted that nighttime travel frequently contributes to navigation hazards on these waterways. A security official who witnessed the event alleged that the vessel arriving from Kinshasa was heavily overloaded with cargo.
Minister Mputu confirmed that the remains of those who perished in the disaster have already been interred. This tragedy adds to a pattern of fatal maritime accidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where inadequate infrastructure, poor safety enforcement, and the use of overcrowded boats often lead to significant loss of life.
Recent history shows the scale of these risks; just this past July, at least 20 people died in Kasai province after a wooden boat carrying students returning from state examinations capsized. Authorities continue to grapple with the systemic challenges that make such journeys exceptionally dangerous for the public.