DR Congo boat disaster kills at least 80
At least 80 fatalities have been reported following a boat sinking in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the country’s president.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday along the Kwa River, approximately 70km (44 miles) from Mushie, a town in the Maï-Ndombe province near the border with Congo-Brazzaville.
President Félix Tshisekedi expressed his profound sorrow in a social media announcement, pledging assistance to those impacted and initiating an investigation into the causes of the disaster.
“The President of the Republic is calling for an investigation into the true causes of this unfortunate incident, to prevent such a disaster from happening again in the future,” the presidency said on X, formerly Twitter.
Deadly boat accidents are common in DR Congo, where boats are frequently overcrowded with passengers who are rarely given safety jackets and often cannot swim.
