At least 24 people have died following the capsizing of an overcrowded boat on a river in Congo’s Mai-Ndombe province.
The death toll is expected to rise as many passengers remain missing, according to a local official’s report on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Sunday night when the boat, which was carrying between 250 and 300 people, overturned after hitting submerged tree trunks.
Jacques Nzenza, the Kutu territory administrator, identified overloading as the primary cause of the accident.
He explained that the boat became unstable due to the excessive weight and the shifting of passengers in a state of panic, which ultimately led to the vessel tipping over.
Fidele Lizoringo, a civil society leader in the region, reported that 43 people survived the tragic event.
In the wake of the disaster, angry villagers took matters into their own hands, lynching the boat’s manager.
They held him responsible for the deaths of their family members and friends, expressing their outrage and grief in a violent manner.
Boat accidents are tragically common in central Africa, a region where river travel is a primary mode of transportation due to the lack of paved roads across its extensive, forested terrain.
Vessels in the area are frequently overloaded, often beyond their safe capacity, which significantly increases the risk of such devastating incidents.
The incident in Mai-Ndombe highlights the persistent dangers associated with river travel in the region and the urgent need for improved safety measures and infrastructure.
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