The death toll from a river boat accident in western Democratic Republic of Congo has increased to at least 29, with 128 survivors identified, according to local authorities on Thursday. Rescue operations have been ongoing since the boat, carrying between 250 and 300 passengers, capsized on Sunday night after striking submerged tree trunks in the Kutu territory.
Kutu administrator Jacques Nzeza attributed the tragedy to overloading and nighttime navigation, both in violation of regulations. The fatalities confirmed so far include 15 women and one child. Fidele Lizoringo, head of a local civil society group, reported that fishermen had spotted four additional bodies in the river, though they were unable to retrieve them.
Lizoringo also noted that 152 survivors have been registered. However, the exact number of missing passengers remains unclear, as the total number of people on board is still unknown. Additionally, some survivors left the scene immediately after the accident, complicating the count.
River travel is a common mode of transportation in the central African country, where few paved roads exist. However, deadly boat accidents are frequent, often due to vessels being overloaded beyond their capacity.
