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Rabat – The death toll resulting from the capsized boat in Equateur province in Congo on Friday last week has surged to 47 lives, with numerous individuals still missing.
Initial reports from authorities in the northwest Equateur province had stated that 28 bodies were recovered from the river while many more passengers were unaccounted for.
However, during a press briefing on Monday, Transport Minister Marc Ekila confirmed the somber update. He revealed that the lack of proper records made it challenging to ascertain the exact number of passengers aboard the ill-fated vessel, citing an “irregular situation.”
The primary cause of this catastrophic accident, Minister Ekila explained, was the boat’s overloading.
Furthermore, he emphasized that “wooden boats” were not authorized for nighttime operations. The tragic journey began in Mbandaka, with the boat bound for the Bolomba Territory in Equateur province.
To address this grievous incident, Ekila announced that provincial authorities have been directed to establish a commission of inquiry to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the shipwreck.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, has few functional roads, prompting widespread reliance on waterways, including the Congo River and its tributaries, for transportation. Unfortunately, this mode of travel frequently results in shipwrecks, with a staggering loss of life.
During a meeting held last Friday, President Felix Tshisekedi issued a call to action, urging ministers to take every necessary step to avert such shipwrecks.
He identified several key factors contributing to these tragedies, which include overloading of passengers and cargo, inadequate waterway marking, nighttime navigation, and non-compliance with safety regulations by boats.
