The death toll from the boat sinking in the Congo River last week has climbed to 47, and many individuals remain unaccounted for, as confirmed by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Transport on Monday.
The initial report, released by authorities from the northwestern Equateur province on Sunday, indicated that 28 bodies had been retrieved from the river, while dozens more individuals remained unaccounted for.
During a press briefing on Monday, Transport Minister Marc Ekila confirmed the updated death toll. However, he mentioned that due to an “irregular situation,” they couldn’t obtain the records needed to determine the exact number of passengers on board.
The minister attributed the accident to “overloading” and emphasized that “wooden boats” were not permitted to operate during the night.
Late on Friday night, the substantial riverboat departed from the city of Mbandaka, heading towards the Bolomba Territory in the Equateur province of the DRC.
“We have asked provincial authorities to set up a commission of inquiry,” Ekila said.
In the expansive Central African nation, the limited availability of viable roads results in frequent travel on lakes, the Congo River, and its tributaries, which unfortunately experience frequent shipwrecks with a substantial loss of life.
According to meeting minutes, President Felix Tshisekedi instructed his ministers on Friday to take every necessary measure to prevent shipwrecks. He identified key contributing factors, including overloading of passengers and cargo, inadequate waterway marking, nighttime navigation, and boats not adhering to regulations.
Tshisekedi, who assumed office in 2019 and is currently pursuing re-election in December, emphasized the necessity for an “action plan” to ensure that the Congo River takes on a pivotal role in fostering economic development for the country.
