A ferry tragedy in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has left at least 38 people dead and more than 100 others missing after the vessel capsized late on Friday in the Busira River. The ferry, which was part of a convoy of boats, was carrying mostly merchants traveling home for the Christmas holidays, said local authorities.
The incident occurred in the Ingende region, where Joseph Kangolingoli, the mayor of Ingende, confirmed the sinking. The ferry was traveling along the river’s path toward Boende, making stops at Ingende and Loolo, and is believed to have carried more than 400 passengers, according to local resident Ndolo Kaddy. The overwhelming number of passengers aboard raises concerns that the death toll could climb further, though initial reports confirm 38 fatalities.
So far, 20 survivors have been rescued from the waters, but the central government has yet to release additional information on the ongoing search and rescue efforts. Local authorities have not confirmed the full scope of the damage or the conditions for those still missing.
This incident highlights the growing concerns over the safety of river transport in the DRC, where overloaded boats are a common issue. Despite repeated warnings from Congolese officials about the risks of overcrowding and failure to adhere to safety regulations, many in remote regions still rely on these vessels due to the scarcity of affordable public transport options.
This tragedy comes just days after another ferry capsized in the northeast, killing 25 people. Earlier this year, several other fatal accidents occurred, including one in October on Lake Kivu, where 78 people drowned, and another in June on the Kwa River near Kinshasa, which resulted in the deaths of 80 people.
The latest accident has reignited discussions about the urgent need for better safety measures and infrastructure improvements to prevent such disasters in the future. As the search for survivors continues, the DRC grapples with how to address the underlying issues contributing to these recurring tragedies.