Tragedy Strikes When Boat Catches Fire in Congo

A tragic boat fire on the Congo River has claimed at least 50 lives and left hundreds missing.

Quick Takes

The HB Kongolo boat caught fire Tuesday night near Mbandaka while carrying approximately 400 passengers.
The fire reportedly started when a woman was cooking onboard the wooden vessel.
About 100 survivors have been rescued so far, with injured victims receiving hospital treatment.
Many victims, including women and children, drowned after jumping into the water unable to swim.
The disaster highlights ongoing safety issues with Congo’s river transportation system, which is reportedly crucial but poorly regulated.

Disaster Strikes on the Congo River

The motorized wooden vessel HB Kongolo, carrying approximately 400 passengers, was engulfed in flames Tuesday night near the northwestern town of Mbandaka. According to officials, the incident quickly escalated from a fire to a capsizing disaster as passengers frantically attempted to escape the burning boat. Local authorities have confirmed at least 50 fatalities, with hundreds more passengers still unaccounted for as rescue operations continue in the challenging river environment.

The cause of the fire has been identified by investigators as a cooking accident. This seemingly routine activity turned catastrophic within minutes as flames spread rapidly across the wooden vessel, leaving passengers with impossible choices—stay aboard the burning boat or jump into the treacherous Congo River waters.

At least 50 killed after boat catches fire, capsizes in DR Congo https://t.co/UnFeN7UsrZ

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 17, 2025

Rescue Efforts

Approximately 100 survivors have been rescued, but hundreds more remain missing. Those rescued have been taken to a shelter established in Mbandaka, while the injured are receiving treatment at local hospitals. The Red Cross and provincial authorities have mobilized to provide emergency assistance, though resources remain stretched thin in the remote region where infrastructure is limited and emergency response capabilities are minimal.

Many victims, particularly women and children, perished after jumping into the river without knowing how to swim. Witness accounts describe harrowing scenes as passengers crowded one side of the boat to escape flames, causing the vessel to capsize. The chaotic evacuation, combined with the remote location and nighttime conditions, severely hampered immediate rescue attempts by other vessels in the vicinity.

Systemic Transportation Challenges

This disaster highlights the persistent safety issues plaguing Congo’s vital river transportation system. Rivers serve as critical arteries for travel and commerce in a country where road infrastructure remains severely underdeveloped. Many remote communities rely exclusively on boat travel, despite the reported risks associated with overcrowded vessels, poor maintenance standards, and inadequate safety equipment.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen multiple deadly boat incidents. Just months ago, a December ferry accident claimed 38 lives, while an October capsizing in Lake Kivu resulted in 78 fatalities.