Latest news with #CompétentLoyoko
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
At least 148 people die after boat catches fire in Congo: reports
At least 148 people were found dead in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a motorized wooden boat caught fire and capsized, media reports citing local officials said on Friday. The boat was carrying as many as 500 passengers, including women and children, when it overturned in the Congo River located in the country's northwest region on Tuesday, as per the reports. 27 DEAD IN NORTHWEST CONGO AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES Boating accidents are common in Congo, where old, wooden vessels are the main form of transport between villages and are often loaded far beyond capacity. Officials estimate hundreds of people to still be missing, the reports added. The number of dead was previously estimated at 50. The boat, called HB Kongolo, caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, having left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory. About 100 survivors were taken to an improvised shelter at the local town hall, while those with burn injuries were taken to local hospitals, Sky News reported. The incident occurred when a fire started as a woman was cooking on board the vessel, Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner, told the Associated Press. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim, the report added. In 2024, at least 78 people drowned when a boat with 278 passengers capsized in Lake Kivu, eastern Congo. In a separate incident, at least 22 people died after a river boat sank in December in western Congo.
Fox News
19-04-2025
- General
- Fox News
At least 148 people die after boat catches fire in Congo: reports
At least 148 people were found dead in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a motorized wooden boat caught fire and capsized, media reports citing local officials said on Friday. The boat was carrying as many as 500 passengers, including women and children, when it overturned in the Congo River located in the country's northwest region on Tuesday, as per the reports. Boating accidents are common in Congo, where old, wooden vessels are the main form of transport between villages and are often loaded far beyond capacity. Officials estimate hundreds of people to still be missing, the reports added. The number of dead was previously estimated at 50. The boat, called HB Kongolo, caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, having left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory. About 100 survivors were taken to an improvised shelter at the local town hall, while those with burn injuries were taken to local hospitals, Sky News reported. The incident occurred when a fire started as a woman was cooking on board the vessel, Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner, told the Associated Press. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim, the report added. In 2024, at least 78 people drowned when a boat with 278 passengers capsized in Lake Kivu, eastern Congo. In a separate incident, at least 22 people died after a river boat sank in December in western Congo.
MTV Lebanon
19-04-2025
- General
- MTV Lebanon
Congo Boat Disaster Death Toll Hits 148, Over 100 Still Missing
The death toll from a boat fire and capsizing in the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this week has risen to 148 with more than 100 people still missing, officials said on Friday. About 500 passengers were on board the wooden boat when it capsized on Tuesday after catching fire on the Congo River in the country's north-west. The catastrophe began when a fire started while a person was cooking on board the vessel, said Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim. Dozens were saved but many of the survivors were left badly burnt. The search for the missing included rescue teams supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities. The motorised wooden boat caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, Loyoko said. The boat, HB Kongolo, had left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory. 'The death toll among the 500 passengers on board was extremely high,' said senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili on Friday. 'As we speak, more than 150 survivors suffering from third-degree burns are without humanitarian assistance.' Deadly boat accidents are common in the central African country, where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often blamed. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations. Congo's rivers are a main means of transport for its more than 100 million people, especially in remote areas with little infrastructure. Hundreds have been killed in boat accidents in recent years as more people abandon the few available roads for wooden vessels packed with passengers and their goods. 'Our magnificent Congo River and the lakes our country abounds in have become huge cemeteries for the Congolese people. This is unacceptable,' said Bofili.
CNN
19-04-2025
- General
- CNN
Death toll from a boat capsizing in Congo earlier this week rises to 148, officials say
The death toll from a boat fire and capsizing in Congo earlier this week rose to 148 with more than 100 people still missing, officials said Friday. About 500 passengers were on board. The wooden boat capsized Tuesday after catching fire on the Congo River in the country's northwest, leaving at least 148 people dead and dozens missing, officials said. The catastrophe began when a fire started as a woman was cooking on board the vessel, Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner, told The Associated Press. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim. Dozens were saved, with many of the survivors badly burned. The search for the missing included rescue teams supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities. The motorized wooden boat caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, Loyoko said. The boat, HB Kongolo, had left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory. 'The death toll among the 500 passengers on board was extremely high,' said Sen. Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili of Equateur province Friday. 'As we speak, more than 150 survivors suffering from third-degree burns are without humanitarian assistance.' Deadly boat accidents are common in the central African country, where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often blamed. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations. Congo's rivers are a major means of transport for its more than 100 million people, especially in remote areas where infrastructure is poor or nonexistent. Hundreds have been killed in boat accidents in recent years as more people abandon the few available roads for wooden vessels packed with passengers and their goods. 'Our magnificent Congo River and the lakes our country abounds in have become huge cemeteries for the Congolese people. This is unacceptable,' said Bofili.
CNN
19-04-2025
- General
- CNN
Death toll from a boat capsizing in Congo earlier this week rises to 148, officials say
The death toll from a boat fire and capsizing in Congo earlier this week rose to 148 with more than 100 people still missing, officials said Friday. About 500 passengers were on board. The wooden boat capsized Tuesday after catching fire on the Congo River in the country's northwest, leaving at least 148 people dead and dozens missing, officials said. The catastrophe began when a fire started as a woman was cooking on board the vessel, Compétent Loyoko, the river commissioner, told The Associated Press. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim. Dozens were saved, with many of the survivors badly burned. The search for the missing included rescue teams supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities. The motorized wooden boat caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, Loyoko said. The boat, HB Kongolo, had left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory. 'The death toll among the 500 passengers on board was extremely high,' said Sen. Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili of Equateur province Friday. 'As we speak, more than 150 survivors suffering from third-degree burns are without humanitarian assistance.' Deadly boat accidents are common in the central African country, where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often blamed. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations. Congo's rivers are a major means of transport for its more than 100 million people, especially in remote areas where infrastructure is poor or nonexistent. Hundreds have been killed in boat accidents in recent years as more people abandon the few available roads for wooden vessels packed with passengers and their goods. 'Our magnificent Congo River and the lakes our country abounds in have become huge cemeteries for the Congolese people. This is unacceptable,' said Bofili.
