At Least 20 Dead After Boat Carrying Students Home From Exams Sinks in Central Congo

Kinshasa: At least 20 people were killed after a boat carrying students back from state exams and other passengers capsized in central Congo, authorities said, in the latest of a series of fatal river accidents in the country.

The vessel was travelling through Kasai province when it sank while entering the confluence of the Sankuru and Kasai rivers. The passengers were reportedly returning after attending state examinations.

As reported by AP, local administrator Francois Kabula said rescue teams recovered 20 bodies while around 80 people survived the accident.

However, eyewitness accounts suggested the number of people on board may have been much higher. According to AP, a witness claimed the boat was carrying more than 200 passengers at the time of the incident, raising concerns that the death toll could increase if additional victims are found.

The cause of the sinking was not immediately known, though fatal boat accidents are a recurring problem in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Overcrowding, poor maintenance, inadequate safety measures and night-time travel are frequently cited as contributing factors in such disasters.

As reported by AP, Francois Malepo, president of the Ilebo civil society organisation, criticised the prevailing safety standards in the river transport sector, alleging that many operators prioritise profits over passenger safety.