Ferry Capsizes in Congo, Resulting in 38 Deaths and Over 100 Missing | Democratic Republic of the Congo

Tragedy Strikes Christmas Travelers with Ferry Capsizing in Congo

Ingende, North-Eastern Congo — A ferry overloaded with passengers, primarily merchants returning home for Christmas, capsized on the Busira River late Friday, resulting in at least 38 confirmed deaths and over 100 people missing. Eyewitness accounts from local officials indicate that approximately 20 individuals have been rescued so far.

This tragic incident follows closely on the heels of another boat capsizing just days earlier, which claimed the lives of 25 people. Joseph Joseph Kangolingoli, the mayor of Ingende, stated that the ill-fated ferry was part of a convoy and had stopped at multiple ports, raising fears of even higher casualties. Local resident Ndolo Kaddy reported the vessel was carrying “more than 400 people,” exacerbating concerns over passenger safety.

Despite recurrent warnings from Congolese officials regarding the dangers of overloading boats, safety regulations remain largely unenforced in remote areas where public transportation options are scarce. Tragically, this is not an isolated incident; at least 78 people drowned in a similar disaster in October, and another 80 lost their lives in June.

The latest capsizing has ignited public outrage towards the government for inadequate safety measures, particularly the absence of flotation devices on the convoy. Local government member Nesty Bonina condemned the authorities’ failure, questioning how a vessel could operate at night without proper oversight while hundreds of lives were at stake.

With the increasing frequency of such tragic maritime incidents, many Congolese continue to rely on overloaded wooden vessels for travel, often opting for what they perceive as safer waterways amidst the perilous conditions on land, including ongoing conflicts and security threats.

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