Overview

• The latest accident occurred Thursday on the Congo River in Lukolela, where the humanitarian affairs ministry said a boat with nearly 500 passengers caught fire and capsized.
• Authorities reported 107 dead and 146 missing from the Lukolela incident, with the final toll still uncertain.
• A separate capsizing on Wednesday in Basankusu killed at least 86 people, and state media said many of the victims were students.
• State media attributed Wednesday’s wreck to improper loading and night navigation, while the cause of Thursday’s disaster has not been determined.
• Reporting describes overloaded wooden vessels, rare life jackets and night travel as persistent risks, and a local civil society group blamed authorities for negligence.