A deadly fire on a crowded passenger boat on the Congo River has claimed the lives of at least 143 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The accident happened earlier this week near Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur Province in the northwestern part of the country.
The incident took place on Tuesday night while the wooden boat was sailing through the confluence of the Ruki and Congo rivers. The boat, heavily loaded with passengers and goods, caught fire suddenly after a cooking fire reportedly triggered a fuel explosion. Many of those onboard were unable to escape in time, leading to a high number of casualties. Several survivors are being treated at local hospitals, while dozens are still unaccounted for.
The fire began when an open flame used for cooking came into contact with stored fuel. This caused a massive explosion, engulfing the boat in flames and smoke. The wooden vessel was not near the shore, making it difficult for passengers to reach safety. The blaze spread quickly, and many people either burned or drowned in the chaos. Videos shared online showed flames tearing through the boat as nearby witnesses watched in horror.
Rescue teams and local volunteers have recovered more than 140 bodies since Wednesday, with the search continuing for missing persons. Officials believe the final death toll may rise. Some of the bodies were badly burned, while others were pulled from the river. Local civil society members have helped in the burial of victims, though the lack of a passenger list has made it hard to confirm the number of people on board. Some families are still looking for loved ones who were believed to be on the boat.
The people involved were mostly travelers using the river as a regular route, as road networks are poorly developed in the DRC. Due to limited transport options, river travel remains common across the country. The Congo River, the second longest in Africa, is often the only link between remote towns and cities. This has led to repeated boat disasters, especially when safety measures are not followed or boats are overloaded.
Authorities are now investigating the cause of the fire and whether any safety regulations were violated. Local leaders say the use of open flames near fuel was extremely dangerous and should have been avoided. The government has yet to confirm if any charges will be filed, but there is growing pressure to improve transport safety on the country’s waterways. Past tragedies have often gone without full investigations, raising concerns about accountability and public safety.
As families grieve and search for answers, the disaster has once again exposed the dangers of river travel in the DRC. The country’s reliance on boats for transportation, combined with weak safety oversight, continues to put lives at risk. Calls for improved infrastructure and better emergency response systems have grown louder following this latest tragedy.