A deadly fire aboard a crowded riverboat in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 50 people dead and hundreds missing, after the vessel caught fire and capsized late Tuesday night on the Congo River near Mbandaka.
Local authorities identified the boat as HB Kongolo, a wooden motorized vessel carrying around 400 passengers. It had departed from the port of Matankumu and was bound for Bolomba territory when the incident occurred.
According to Compétent Loyoko, the regional river commissioner, the fire began when a woman attempted to cook on board — a common but hazardous practice on Congolese passenger boats. The flames spread rapidly across the wooden structure, forcing many to jump into the river in panic.
“Several passengers, including women and children, drowned after jumping without being able to swim,” Loyoko told reporters.
Dozens of survivors, many with severe burns, were rescued and taken to hospitals in Mbandaka. About 100 people are currently being sheltered at the town hall, while search and recovery efforts continue, supported by the Red Cross and local emergency teams.
Boat accidents remain tragically frequent in the DRC, often linked to overcrowding, poor regulation, and the widespread use of night travel. With limited road infrastructure across vast regions, rivers serve as critical transport routes for millions, but the lack of safety measures has led to repeated disasters.
Hundreds have lost their lives in similar incidents in recent years, and authorities continue to face challenges in enforcing maritime laws and improving vessel safety.
The government has not yet released a full list of those missing as rescue teams continue to search the waters.
