Deutsche Welle

The number of people who died after a motorized wooden boat caught fire and capsized in the Congo River in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 148, officials said on Friday.

The death toll from the accident that took place on Tuesday earlier stood at 50, though there were fears the number would rise since the boat packed some 500 passengers, according to an official of Equateur province.

The catastrophe began when a fire started while a person was cooking on board the vessel, said Competent Loyoko, the river commissioner.

What do we know about the Congo boat disaster?
The fire broke out near Mbandaka city in the Equateur Province, at the confluence of the Congo and Ruki rivers.

Officials said that several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim.

Even though dozens were saved, many of the survivors were left badly burnt. Some of those injured were taken to nearby hospitals, but many were still waiting for news of their loved ones, according to Joseph Lokondo, a local civil society leader.

"A first group of 131 bodies were found on Wednesday, with a further 12 fished out on Thursday and Friday. Several of them are charred," Josephine-Pacifique Lokumu, head of a delegation of national deputies from the region told the media.

Some images and videos shared on social media showed a long boat with flames and smoke coming from it, as people on smaller vessels looked on.

Reports said local Red Cross teams were on site to help local authorities with rescue efforts.

Boat accidents are not uncommon in DR Congo
DR Congo does not have a reliable road or airway system that connects its vast land. This makes it more practical for people to travel on boats across lakes and the Congo River. 

Boat accidents are common in the region. In 2019, a shipwreck on Lake Kivu killed around 100 people.