Water accidents have been recurrent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, more so as many prefer traveling long distances via water because of the poor road networks. Reports unveil that the recent tragedy occurred on Sunday at around 8 pm.
What Really Happened?
According to witnesses, the boat was headed for Mbandaka, located 700 kilometers from Kinshasa, when it hit a rock. Witnesses state that rescue teams uncovered about 60 bodies that were floating lifeless on the water. Although they managed to salvage 300 people, it is alleged that the whereabouts of another 200 remain unknown.
DRC’s Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Steve Mbikayi, told the BBC that he had received reports that alleged that the boat was overloaded and had been sailing at night in breach of the law. Displeased with the incident, Mbikayi added that annually such reasons contribute to wrecks within their waters. According to Mbikayi, a total of 700 people had boarded the boat; hence, hundreds were still missing.
“So far, the rescue team has recovered 60 lifeless bodies and 300 survivors. There are still several missing after this shipwreck, ” Mbikayi stated.
Charles Mbutamuntu, the provincial government spokesman, confirmed that the tragedy occurred at around 20:00 local time leaving 60 passengers dead. Authorities only got to know about the incident after residents raised alarms.
Why Boat Accidents Occur in DRC
Deadly boat accidents are not new in the DRC. Often, boats are frequently overpacked with travelers who rarely wear safety jackets. On many occasions, most of these passengers do not know how to swim. Last year around April, two similar incidents happened in Lake Kivu, leaving 167 people dead.
The same year in May, ten people succumbed in Lake Kivu after the leisure boat they were traveling in capsized. Similarly, in 2010, 135 people capsized in the western province of Bandundu.
Why Congo Has Poor Transport System
Amidst vast resources, Congo happens to be one of the world’s poorest countries, with an undeveloped transport network. The latter contributes significantly to the deteriorating economy. Most of all, years of civil conflict in the country have driven Congo to where it currently is.
Although Congo is potentially one of the wealthiest countries on earth, it continues to suffer the wrath of colonialism and slavery. If the Government of Congo could improve its transport system, water accidents will be limited, and it would also pave room for developmental projects.
What is the Government Doing to End Wrecks
Like any state, constant cases of accident usually draw concerns. And the Democratic Republic of Congo is not new to that. The tragedy prompted President Tshisekedi to enact new legislation requiring all passengers to wear life jackets during water travels. However, there is not much information on whether the victims of the Sunday accident wore lifejackets.
Not many are ready to abide by the new legislation, which gives rise to multiple questions about whether people are concerned about their safety. It is not like no one wishes to arrive at their destinations safely.
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