Sinking of the whaling boat “IBORA” on the Congo River, Mbandaka, October 2023.
A tragic shipwreck took place on the Congo River, in Mbandaka, causing shock waves in the region. The makeshift whaleboat, nicknamed “IBORA”, sank in the waters of the river on the night of Friday October 14. According to a provisional report presented by the vice-governor of Ecuador, Dr Taylor Nganzi Nkeka, 28 dead bodies were recovered, while 261 people are still missing, according to their relatives. Among the survivors, 287 people were identified.
The circumstances of this tragedy are linked to non-compliance with navigation measures. The whaleboat was carrying more than 300 passengers as well as cargo such as bags of cement, iron bars and thousands of liters of fuel. However, it was overloaded and was sailing at night, thus violating basic safety rules.
Following this shipwreck, the vice-governor of Ecuador is working closely with river services to conduct in-depth research into the causes of the accident. He also called on the central government to provide assistance to the victims’ families to help them cope with this tragedy.
This tragedy once again highlights the importance of respecting safety and navigation measures on waterways, to avoid such accidents. It also highlights the need for stricter regulations and strengthened controls to ensure the safety of passengers and goods during crossings on the Congo River.
In conclusion, this sinking of the whaleboat “IBORA” is a tragedy which reminds us of the essential importance of respecting safety rules during river navigation. It is essential to improve regulations and controls to avoid such accidents in the future, and to provide adequate support to victims’ families in these difficult times.