Overloaded ferry capsizes in Congo, killing dozens Over 100 others Missing

On December 20 night, an overloaded ferry capsized on the Burisa River in Congo killing at least 38 people, and causing over 100 missing. 

The tragedy occurred just days before Christmas as the ferry, packed with passengers returning home for the holiday, was en route from Ingende to Boende in the country’s northeast, Caliber.Az informs per foreign media.

Local officials and eyewitnesses report that 20 people have been rescued so far. The ferry, part of a convoy of vessels, was carrying primarily merchants, according to Joseph Joseph Kangolingoli, the mayor of Ingende, the last town before the site of the accident. The boat was already operating under dangerous conditions when it capsized, causing a large-scale disaster in the remote region.

"This ferry was overloaded with more than 400 passengers, as it made stops in both Ingende and Loolo on the way to Boende," said Ndolo Kaddy, a local resident. "There is a strong belief that the death toll could rise as we continue to search for survivors."

This incident comes less than four days after another similar tragedy in the northeast of Congo, where a boat capsized, killing 25 people. Overloading remains a chronic issue on Congolese waterways, with officials having previously warned against such practices and vowed to enforce safety regulations.

The country’s transportation system is notoriously underdeveloped, with many remote regions relying on ferry services due to the lack of affordable alternatives. However, the rising number of fatal accidents has sparked renewed concern over safety and the effectiveness of enforcement.

In a related incident, in October, 78 people drowned in the east of the country when another overloaded ferry sank, and 80 lives were lost in a similar disaster near the capital, Kinshasa, earlier in June.

Local authorities continue to search for the missing passengers, and efforts are underway to bring the survivors to safety.

Notably, the capsizing of overloaded boats is becoming increasingly frequent in this central African nation as more people, for security reasons, are giving up the few available roads in favour of wooden vessels crumbling under the weight of passengers and their goods.

The roads are often caught up in the deadly clashes between Congolese security forces and rebels that sometimes block major access routes.

By Khagan Isayev