Congo Boat Tragedy: 50 Dead and Over 100 Missing After Boat Catches Fire and Capsizes; Video Emerges

At least 50 people died and over 100 people were missing after a boat caught fire first and capsized on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) river. The search and rescue operation for the missing is underway on Wednesday, April 16. The teams from the Red Cross also joined the search operation on the Congo River.

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The accident took place late Tuesday night, when a motorised wooden boat with about 400 passengers on board caught fire near Mbandaka town after leaving the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory, according to the news agency The Associated Press (AP), quoting Bolomba territory river commissioner Competent Loyoko.

Video of Boat Accident in DR Congo River Surfaces

Breaking IN- A boat catches fire in DR Congo and capsizes, leaving at least 50 people dead and 100 missing. Reportedly, someone was cooking on the boat. pic.twitter.com/eVvy5i4cmA

— The Curious Quill (@PleasingRj) April 17, 2025

The incident occurred when some passenger was cooking on board. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim. About 100 survivors were taken to an improvised shelter at the Mbandaka town hall, many of them with bad burns.