Two separate river accidents this week in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least 193 people and left many still missing, authorities said on Friday, September 12, 2025.
The accidents took place in Equateur province, about 150 km apart. One occurred on Wednesday in Basankusu territory when a motorized boat capsized, killing at least 86 people—most of them students.
The second accident was on Thursday in Lukolela territory, near the village of Malange, when a whaleboat carrying nearly 500 passengers caught fire and capsized. The ministry of humanitarian affairs reported 209 survivors.
In the Malange accident, officials say 107 people died and about 146 are missing. Rescue operations are underway.
State media attributed the Basankusu capsize to “improper loading and navigation at night.”
River transport is essential across Congo’s remote regions, where roads are few and often impassable.
But many boats are wooden, poorly maintained, overloaded, lack life jackets, and travel at night—factors that make accidents more frequent and rescue efforts harder.
Authorities are working to recover bodies and locate missing people. Local civil society groups are pushing for better safety enforcement and more regulation of river travel.
Families of victims are gathering near riverbanks as the country mourns another major transport disaster.