Overview

• The confirmed death toll from the HB Kongolo boat disaster has risen to 148, with officials estimating hundreds of passengers still unaccounted for.
• The fire began when a woman cooking onboard ignited nearby fuel, causing the vessel to catch fire and capsize near Mbandaka on April 15, 2025.
• The boat was reportedly carrying around 500 passengers, including women and children, many of whom drowned after jumping into the river unable to swim.
• Over 100 survivors, some with severe burn injuries, have been taken to improvised shelters and local hospitals as rescue efforts and searches continue.
• The tragedy underscores chronic safety issues in DR Congo's river transport, where overcrowding, weak regulation, and poor infrastructure lead to frequent deadly accidents.