Title: Tragedy on the Congo River: the sinking of a whaleboat in Mbandaka causes more than 27 victims
Introduction :
On the evening of [date], a drama of tragic proportions unfolded on the Congo River in Mbandaka, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A wooden whaling boat, overloaded with passengers and goods, capsized, causing more than 27 victims, including children and a manager of the CENI branch. This shipwreck highlights the non-compliance with safety measures regarding river navigation.
The tragic shipwreck:
The sinking occurred around 9 p.m., when the whaleboat named “MAPAMBOLI” was maneuvering at the river port of BANKITA. The boat, carrying more than 100 passengers as well as bags of cement, iron bars and thousands of liters of fuel, sank due to excessive overload and night navigation.
Recovery operations in progress:
Body recovery operations were immediately launched. To date, more than 27 victims have been found and rushed to Mbandaka hospital morgues. However, these establishments are already overwhelmed by the influx of victims, making the situation even more tragic.
Supervision of research:
The deputy governor of the province, Dr. Taylor NGANZI NKEKA, is supervising the search for the bodies, carried out by the river services, with the support of the victims’ families. Meticulous and painful work to try to find all the missing and pay them a last tribute.
A reminder of safety measures:
This tragedy highlights the importance of respecting safety measures in terms of river navigation. The overloading of boats, nighttime navigation conditions and the absence of strict controls are all factors that contribute to these tragic accidents. It is imperative that authorities strengthen regulations and ensure that such events do not occur again in the future.
Conclusion :
This shipwreck of a whaling boat in Mbandaka on the Congo River is a tragedy that mourns the Democratic Republic of Congo. The more than 27 victims, including children, leave behind grieving families. It is time that strict measures are taken to prevent such accidents and guarantee the safety of boaters on the country’s waterways.