Mbandaka, April 19 — A devastating explosion aboard a fuel-laden boat in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in the deaths of at least 143 people, with several others still reported missing. The tragedy occurred near the confluence of the Ruki and Congo Rivers, close to the capital city of Mbandaka. The area is known for being one of the deepest river points in the world.
As per agency report, the incident was triggered when a woman aboard the overcrowded vessel lit a fire to cook food, unaware of the proximity to highly flammable fuel. The resulting explosion caused panic among passengers, leading to chaos and ultimately capsizing the vessel.
Local civil society leader Joseph Lokondo stated that both rescue teams and residents have been working tirelessly to retrieve and bury the dead. Some victims perished due to severe burns, while others drowned in the river. As of Friday, the search efforts had recovered 143 bodies—131 on Wednesday and an additional 12 over the following two days. Many of the bodies were severely charred, indicating the intensity of the fire.
Josephine Lokumu, who is leading the investigation team, confirmed that the initial findings point to the use of an open flame near the boat’s fuel storage as the cause of the explosion. The boat was reportedly carrying passengers beyond its legal capacity, further compounding the scale of the tragedy.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident, while relief and search operations continue. The disaster has once again highlighted the risks associated with overloaded river transport and lax safety regulations in the region.
