Sinking of a whaling boat in Mbandaka: a tragedy which reveals the urgency of river security measures in the DRC
The recent sinking of a wooden whaling boat on the Congo River has plunged the town of Mbandaka, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, into mourning. With more than 27 victims, including children and a head of the CENI branch, this tragedy highlights the dangers faced by local populations.
According to initial information, the sinking was due to non-compliance with navigation measures, in particular overloading the boat and navigating at night. The whaleboat, named “MAPAMBOLI”, was carrying more than 100 passengers as well as cargoes of cement, iron bars and fuel. These conditions would have contributed to the loss of balance of the boat during maneuvers at the river port of BANKITA.
Body recovery operations are currently underway, with a search team dispatched to the scene of the tragedy. Under the supervision of the Deputy Governor of the province, Dr. Taylor NGANZI NKEKA, the river services are working tirelessly to find the victims and return them to their families.
Unfortunately, this disaster also highlights the difficulties facing hospitals in Mbandaka. Mortuaries are already full due to the high number of deaths, making the need to strengthen medical infrastructure in the region even more urgent.
Faced with this tragedy, it is crucial that local authorities take immediate measures to improve river safety. This should involve stricter controls on overloading boats, compulsory training for navigators and the establishment of stricter regulations to avoid dangerous night navigation.
In addition, it is essential to inform and raise awareness among local populations about the risks associated with river navigation, in order to prevent new tragic accidents. Safety campaigns should be organized, with advice on what to do in an emergency and what preventative measures to take.
This shipwreck is an alarming reminder of the importance of safety in river transport in the DRC. It is time for concrete measures to be taken to avoid such tragedies in the future and guarantee the safety of populations who depend on river navigation for their travel and economic activities.
In conclusion, the tragedy of the whaleboat sinking in Mbandaka reminds us of the urgency of acting to improve river security in the DRC. Measures such as controlling overloading of boats, mandatory training and awareness campaigns are needed to prevent further accidents. It is time for the authorities to take concrete measures to avoid such tragedies in the future and to protect the lives of populations who depend on the Congo River for their daily activities.