ALBAWABA - Officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo said Friday that a fire on an overloaded wooden boat on the Congo River had killed at least 148 people and left hundreds more missing.
According to reports, the disaster started when a lady began cooking aboard the ship, setting off a huge fire that swiftly spread across the whole boat. Hundreds of people jumped into the river after the tragedy, which happened Tuesday close to the Equateur Province; many of them perished or were severely burned.
About 500 people were on the boat when the accident occurred, according to Senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili. He went on to say that over 150 survivors are now not getting enough humanitarian aid and are suffering from third-degree burns.
The cooking activity, a frequent but risky practice on such boats, was the cause of the fire, according to River Commissioner Lou Yoku. 131 victims were retrieved on Wednesday, and 12 more were discovered in the days that followed, according to lawmaker Josephine-Pacifique Lokumu, who spoke to AFP.
Several people, including women and children, perished after plunging into the river without being able to swim, according to authorities. Hospitals in the area are treating burn patients, and a temporary shelter for around 100 survivors has been set up in a local municipal building.
Widespread requests for stricter safety restrictions on passenger boats—which are often used for transportation along the Congo River despite sometimes being overcrowded and missing basic safety measures—have been triggered by the tragedy.
