The mayor of Mbandaka, Yves Balo, confirmed on Saturday that 33 people died in a boat fire on the Congo River earlier this week. The toll, significantly lower than previous estimates, follows an investigation by local authorities.
The blaze erupted on Tuesday, as over 200 passengers crowded onto a wooden boat. Most of the survivors, 195 people in total, have been accounted for, including 22 burn victims currently receiving treatment at Wangata General Hospital.
Initial reports had suggested that more than 140 people had perished, with figures ranging from 143 to 145. Mayor Balo attributed the discrepancies to confusion over death tolls from past disasters on the river, where boat accidents are tragically common.
Search efforts for additional survivors and bodies continued through Saturday, but hope was fading, three days after the disaster. The boat had been traveling near Mbandaka, a town in Equateur Province, when the fire started. Witnesses said a cooking fire ignited fuel, causing a deadly explosion.
Funerals were held in Mbandaka on Friday, with videos showing Red Cross workers transporting coffins and families mourning their losses. “We will never forget you,” read a tribute displayed next to one of the coffins.
The DR Congo faces challenges due to its vast size and lack of roads, making river travel essential but perilous. Previous boat accidents on the Congo River have claimed dozens of lives, underscoring the region’s ongoing maritime safety issues.
