At least 193 people were killed this week in two separate boat accidents in the Democratic Republic of Northwest Congo (DRC), authorities said.
On Thursday, a boat carrying almost 500 passengers sparked a fire and capsized along the Congo River in Le Cholera territory, the Congo Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs said. The 209 survivors added that they had been rescued by boat near the village of Marange.
Just a day ago, state media reported that the students were 86 people who died when an electric boat cupped in Bassunks territory was cupped on Wednesday. The accident was attributed to “improper loads and nighttime navigation.”
Local civil society groups condemned the government’s accident on Wednesday, claiming the death toll was high.
It was not immediately clear which accident caused.
In Central African countries, where river transport is essential for moving villages, boat capsizing is becoming more and more frequent. Many people choose to travel by boat as it is a cheaper mode of transport than traveling on the road.
Old wooden containers often overload passengers and their products beyond their capacity, and often are not equipped with life jackets. Additionally, many boats travel at night, further complicating rescue operations in the event of an accident.
