Boat collision in DR Congo results in at least 30 fatalities and many missing

A boat collision on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in at least 30 deaths, with dozens more reported missing. The incident occurred on Sunday evening near the Ngombe-Lukolela area in Equateur province, according to officials. Two vessels collided while navigating the river. Crispin Mputu, the interior minister of Equateur province, stated that a metal vessel named ‘Dieu se cache,’ which was coming from Kinshasa, collided with a wooden vessel called ‘HB Super Victoire,’ which was coming from Businga. Mputu reported that nearly all passengers on board were trapped underwater, leading to the sinking of the boat. The deceased have already been buried. Search-and-rescue operations are currently underway to locate the missing individuals. The cause of the crash remains unclear, although Mputu indicated that many accidents occur during nighttime travel. A security officer who witnessed the incident reported that the boat traveling from Kinshasa was overloaded with goods. Boating accidents are frequent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, often attributed to late-night travel and overcrowded vessels. Poor safety standards and inadequate infrastructure in remote regions also contribute to these disasters, which have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years. In July, a wooden boat carrying students returning from state exams sank in Kasai province, resulting in at least 20 fatalities.