Congo River boat collision kills at least 30 people

At least 30 people have died and dozens remain missing following a collision between two boats on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The accident occurred near the Ngombe-Lukolela area in Equateur province.

According to provincial interior minister Crispin Mputu, the collision involved a metal vessel named ‘Dieu se cache’ traveling from Kinshasa and a wooden vessel called ‘HB Super Victoire’ traveling from Businga. Witnesses reported that the vessel returning from Ubangi was overloaded with goods, which may have contributed to the crash. One of the boats sank, trapping many passengers underwater.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate survivors and the missing. Authorities noted that the 30 confirmed deceased have already been buried. This tragedy highlights ongoing safety concerns in the region, where nighttime navigation, overcrowded vessels, and poor infrastructure frequently lead to fatal river accidents.