At the least 148 folks have been discovered lifeless within the Democratic Republic of Congo after a motorized picket boat caught fireplace and capsized, media experiences citing native officers stated on Friday.
The boat was carrying as many as 500 passengers, together with girls and kids, when it overturned within the Congo River positioned within the nation’s northwest area on Tuesday, as per the experiences.
27 DEAD IN NORTHWEST CONGO AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES
Boating accidents are widespread in Congo, the place outdated, wooden vessels are the principle type of transport between villages and are sometimes loaded far past capability.
The flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is seen in Beijing, Could 26, 2023. (Photograph by Wang Xin/VCG)
Officers estimate lots of of individuals to nonetheless be lacking, the experiences added. The variety of lifeless was beforehand estimated at 50.
The boat, known as HB Kongolo, caught fireplace close to the city of Mbandaka, having left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory.
About 100 survivors have been taken to an improvised shelter on the native city corridor, whereas these with burn accidents have been taken to native hospitals, Sky Information reported.
The incident occurred when a hearth began as a lady was cooking on board the vessel, Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner, instructed the Related Press.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
A number of passengers, together with girls and kids, died after leaping into the water with out having the ability to swim, the report added.
In 2024, not less than 78 folks drowned when a ship with 278 passengers capsized in Lake Kivu, japanese Congo. In a separate incident, not less than 22 folks died after a river boat sank in December in western Congo.
Source link