Tragedy in DR Congo: Boat Sinking in Basankusu Claims 86 Lives, Mostly Students

KINSHASA, September 12 – A devastating maritime disaster has claimed the lives of at least 86 people, the majority of whom were students, after a boat capsized in the northwestern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to state media reports, the tragic incident occurred on Wednesday in the Basankusu area, situated along the Maringa River. The overloaded vessel was reportedly carrying dozens of passengers when it lost balance and sank, leaving families and communities in mourning.

Local authorities and rescue teams were dispatched to the site, but survivor accounts suggest that emergency response efforts were hampered by poor communication and limited access to the remote area. Recovery operations are ongoing, and officials fear the death toll could rise as more bodies are recovered.

Incidents like this are not uncommon in the DRC, where river transport remains a primary mode of travel due to limited road infrastructure. Overcrowding, poor maintenance of vessels, and lack of safety regulations are often cited as contributing factors in such accidents.

The government has launched an investigation into the sinking, and President Félix Tshisekedi has expressed condolences to the victims' families, vowing reforms to improve waterway safety.