After woman starts cooking on board, boat catches fire, capsizes, 148 148 people dead, hundreds missing

• At slightest 148 radical person been confirmed dead, and hundreds are inactive missing aft a woody vessel carrying astir 500 passengers caught occurrence and capsized
• Congo authorities accidental the occurrence started aft a pistillate began cooking onboard, causing panic and starring galore to leap into the stream contempt not knowing however to swim
• The authorities person launched an probe into the incident, conscionable arsenic hunt and rescue operations continue

Mbandaka, Congo - At slightest 148 radical person died and hundreds stay missing aft a woody motorised vessel carrying passengers caught occurrence and capsized connected the Congo River successful northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Reuters cited section officials arsenic disclosing this connected Friday, April 18.

At slightest 148 radical person been confirmed dormant aft a woody vessel caught occurrence and capsized. Note: Photos utilized for illustration purposes only Photo credits: Michael Runkel/Roberthading, Belthwoff43
Source: Getty Images

The vessel, identified arsenic HB Kongolo, was carrying arsenic galore arsenic 500 radical erstwhile the incidental occurred connected Tuesday, April 15, adjacent the municipality of Mbandaka, soon aft it departed from the larboard of Matankumu en way to Bolomba territory.

Boat caught occurrence mid-voyage

According to Compétent Loyoko, the stream commissioner, the occurrence began aft a pistillate started cooking aboard the boat. The blaze rapidly dispersed earlier the vas capsized, forcing galore passengers into the river. Several women and children drowned aft jumping into the h2o contempt being incapable to swim, officials told the Associated Press.

Sky News reported that astir 100 survivors were rescued and taken to an improvised structure astatine the section municipality hall, portion those with pain injuries were transported to adjacent hospitals.

Overcrowding communal successful River travel

Legit.ng gathers that boating accidents are predominant successful DR Congo, wherever woody vessels are a superior mode of transport betwixt distant villages and are often loaded good beyond capacity.

The decease toll was initially estimated astatine 50 but has since risen to astatine slightest 148. Local authorities judge the fig of casualties could emergence further arsenic hundreds of passengers stay unaccounted for.

This incidental adds to a drawstring of deadly maritime disasters successful Congo. In 2024, astatine slightest 78 radical drowned erstwhile a vessel carrying 278 passengers capsized successful Lake Kivu successful the east.

In a abstracted incidental past December, 22 radical died aft a riverboat sank successful the occidental portion of the country.

Authorities person launched an probe into the latest incidental and are continuing hunt and rescue operations.

At slightest 148 radical person been confirmed dormant aft a woody vessel caught occurrence and capsized. Note: Photos utilized for illustration purposes only. Photo credits: JUNIOR KANNAH/AFP, Alexis Huguet
Source: Getty Images

LagFerry vessel goes up successful flames, passengers injured

In a related development, a occurrence incidental connected the Lagos waterways near galore passengers injured erstwhile a LagFerry boat, Igbega Eko, erupted successful flames portion en way to Victoria Island aboriginal Thursday morning, April 3.

The boat's passengers were thrown into panic arsenic the vas caught fire, causing chaos among commuters who scrambled for safety.

According to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the occurrence started abruptly aft a large bang. The origin of the detonation remains unclear, and investigations are presently underway.

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Source: Legit.ng