Kinshasa: The death toll from the fire-related sinking of a boat on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo this week has risen to 148.
According to Lao News Agency, these deaths are in addition to approximately 100 people who are missing, some of whom may be added to the number of fatalities. The incident has left local authorities scrambling to manage the aftermath as they continue search and rescue operations.
In the wake of the tragedy, there are 150 known survivors, but uncertainties remain regarding the total number of passengers aboard the ill-fated vessel. Comp©tent Mboyo, the head of the River Commission of the eastern Ecuadorian province, noted that the boat lacked a passenger list, complicating efforts to determine the full scope of the disaster.
Tragically, this incident follows another shipwreck in the same region last week, which resulted in the deaths of 72 people. The recurrence of such accidents highlights the ongoing challenges of river travel in the area.