As of June 2025, a boat sank in Congo

• The sinking of the boat on Lake Tumba resulted in the death of at least 30 people, including students.
• The search for the missing is ongoing, but rescue operations are complicated due to a lack of equipment.
• The causes of the tragedy are linked to bad weather conditions and overcrowding of the vessel.

This was reported by Associated Press, Deutsche Welle.

Boat sinking in Congo

In the northwestern province of Equateur in the Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 30 people, including several students, have died as a result of a boat sinking on Lake Tumba. This tragedy occurred on Wednesday evening when the boat, carrying cargo and passengers, capsized due to severe weather.

Search for the missing

According to local residents and authorities, the search for many missing people is ongoing. Territory administrator Justin Mputu confirmed that 30 bodies have already been recovered from the water, but the number of missing remains unknown.

Difficult conditions for rescue operations

Challenges in rescue operations are caused by a lack of necessary equipment, particularly life jackets and boats. Lake Bikoro Commissioner Gabriel Ifulu Bongolomba noted that rescuers are forced to use private boats but often face a shortage of fuel.

Causes of the sinking

The causes of the sinking are not entirely clear, but it is evident that both bad weather conditions and overcrowding of the boat contributed to the incident. Mputu indicated that the capsizing may have occurred due to strong waves caused by rain. Witnesses report that overcrowding was so severe that some passengers were not allowed on the boat.

Waterways are an important means of transport for over 100 million people in Congo, especially in remote areas where infrastructure is lacking.