Boat Disaster Claims Lives on the Congo River

A catastrophic fire aboard a wooden boat on the Congo River has claimed at least 50 lives and left hundreds missing, highlighting the dangerous state of water transportation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Key Takeaways

At least 50 people died and hundreds remain missing after a wooden boat caught fire and capsized in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The fire started when someone was cooking on the overcrowded vessel carrying approximately 400 passengers.
About 100 survivors, many with severe burns, have been rescued and taken to a shelter at Mbandaka town hall.
Many victims, including women and children, drowned after jumping into the river, unable to swim.
Boat accidents are reportedly frequent in DRC due to overcrowding, poor safety standards, and limited transportation alternatives.

Tragedy on the Congo River

A devastating maritime disaster unfolded in the Democratic Republic of Congo when a motorized wooden vessel caught fire and subsequently capsized on the Congo River near the town of Mbandaka. Provincial authorities report that at least 50 people have perished in the incident, with hundreds more still unaccounted for. The boat, carrying approximately 400 passengers, became engulfed in flames when a cooking fire onboard spread out of control, triggering panic among those aboard the crowded vessel.

Rescue teams have managed to save about 100 survivors, many suffering from severe burns who are now receiving medical attention at a makeshift shelter established at Mbandaka town hall. The Red Cross and local provincial authorities are coordinating ongoing rescue operations, but the remote location and limited resources hamper efforts to locate more survivors or recover bodies from the murky waters.

Boat catches fire, capsizes in Congo, leaving at least 50 people dead and hundreds missing: official https://t.co/5JibLdAdMu pic.twitter.com/zQuaxNDmLA

— New York Post (@nypost) April 16, 2025

Infrastructure Challenges and Safety Concerns

This disaster highlights the perilous state of transportation infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rivers serve as critical transportation arteries throughout the vast country, especially in remote regions where road networks are limited or nonexistent. Many communities rely entirely on water transport for movement of people and goods, often with few safety regulations enforced. Overloaded wooden vessels frequently ply the Congo River and its tributaries, serving as lifelines for commerce and travel despite the risks.

Eyewitness accounts describe horrific scenes as passengers, including women and children, jumped into the river to escape the rapidly spreading flames. Many who leapt into the water were unable to swim and drowned in the strong river currents. Local fishermen in small boats attempted to assist with rescue efforts but were overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster and the number of people in distress.

A Pattern of Maritime Disasters

This latest tragedy is part of an alarming pattern of deadly maritime incidents in the DRC. In December, a ferry accident claimed 38 lives, and just two months earlier in October, 78 people perished when a vessel capsized in Lake Kivu. Reports indicate that authorities have a hard time enforcing maritime regulations in the country and that accidents are commonly attributed to overcrowding and night traveling.