Ship Caught Fire In Congo, 148 Passengers Died

Illustration of the Poisisi of the Congo map

KIGALI - The death toll in a ship crash in Congo earlier this week has reached 148 people as a result, local officials said on Friday (18/4).

The unfortunate incident occurred on Tuesday (15/4) night in Mbandaka, Equateur Province.

According to senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili, the motorized wooden boat was carrying 500 people, including children, when it caught fire and capsized.

He said more than 150 victims with varying burns were rescued, but hundreds more were still missing.

Several dead victims were found charred from the ship.

Local media reported that the fire on the ship occurred while a woman was cooking food.

Authorities previously estimated the death toll to reach 50.

The ship was carrying passengers from Bolenge port in Equateur to the main market in Ngbondo village.

In Congo, water transportation is popular transportation because many roads cannot be passed.

The accident occurred days after more than 50 people died when a ship with excess cargo capsized in the same river.