At Least 30 Dead After Congo River Boat Collision

At least 30 people have died and dozens remain missing after two vessels collided on the Congo River in Equateur province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The crash occurred on Sunday evening near the Ngombe-Lukolela area as the boats were navigating the river at night, according to officials. Search-and-rescue operations were launched for those reported missing.

Two vessels involved

Equateur Interior Minister Crispin Mputu told Agence Congolaise Presse that one of the vessels, the metal boat Dieu se cache, was travelling from Kinshasa. The second, a wooden vessel named HB Super Victoire, was coming from Businga.

Mputu said almost all the passengers were trapped underwater and that the boat sank. Officials reported that 30 people drowned, while those who died had already been buried, according to the source report.

The number of people still missing has not been specified. Officials have also not established what caused the collision.

Overloaded vessel reported

An unidentified security officer who witnessed the incident told The Associated Press that the vessel travelling from Kinshasa was overloaded with goods. The report did not establish whether the overloading contributed to the collision.

Boating tragedies are common in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where late-night travel and overcrowded vessels are often cited in reports about accidents. Poor safety standards and limited infrastructure in remote areas are also reported to contribute to boating disasters.

In a separate incident in July, a wooden boat carrying students returning from state examinations sank in Kasai province, killing at least 20 people, according to the source report.