At least 38 people have died and over 100 remain missing after a ferry capsized on the Busira River in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), officials and witnesses confirmed on Saturday.
The incident occurred late on Friday, when the ferry, part of a convoy of vessels, sank while travelling with passengers, mostly merchants returning home for Christmas.
Joseph Joseph Kangolingoli, the mayor of Ingende – the last town on the river before the site of the accident – confirmed that 20 people had been rescued so far.
According to Ndolo Kaddy, an Ingende resident, the ferry carried “more than 400 people” because it made stops at Ingende and Loolo before heading to Boende. “There is reason to believe there were more deaths,” Kaddy added.
Central government authorities have yet to provide further details or comment on the ongoing rescue efforts.
The DRC’s government has long warned about the dangers of overloading boats and promised to punish those responsible for violations of safety measures on rivers.
However, in many remote regions, public transportation options are limited, forcing people to rely on ferries and other vessels despite the safety risks.
The latest tragedy follows a series of deadly boat accidents in the DRC. Just four days before this incident, another boat capsized in the country’s northeast, killing 25 people.
In October, at least 78 people drowned when a boat, reportedly carrying hundreds of passengers, capsized on Lake Kivu in the country’s east whereas, a similar accident in June on the Kwa River near Kinshasa claimed the lives of 80 people.
