Congo Boat Tragedy: At Least 86 Dead in Equateur Province

At least 86 people have died after a motorized boat capsized in Basankusu territory of northwestern Congo’s Equateur Province, state media reported Friday.

The accident, which occurred Wednesday, claimed mostly student victims. The cause has not been confirmed, though reports cited by the state news agency blamed “improper loading and night navigation.” Images from the scene showed villagers mourning beside recovered bodies.

A local civil society group accused the government of negligence and suggested the death toll was higher. Officials have yet to comment.

Boat accidents are increasingly common in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where crumbling wooden vessels are often overloaded and operate at night without life jackets. Poor roads push many to rely on river transport, complicating rescue efforts and leaving many victims unaccounted for.