Deadly shipwreck on the Congo River: a recurring tragedy in DR Congo
A new tragedy unfolded on Friday on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the sinking of a makeshift boat called a “whaler”. According to the latest report presented by the Minister of Transport, at least 47 people have lost their lives and others are still missing.
Unfortunately, this type of accident has become a frequent reality in the country. DR Congo, with its vast network of waterways, relies heavily on waterways for travel. Despite this, security conditions often remain precarious, which regularly leads to shipwrecks with tragic consequences.
In this case, the accident would be due to the overloading of the boat, which would also have sailed during the night when this is prohibited. In addition, the boat was in an irregular situation, which made it difficult to determine the exact number of passengers on board.
Following this accident, President Félix Tshisekedi asked the government to take measures to avoid such tragedies in the future. He cited several main causes of shipwrecks, including overloading of passengers and cargo, poor marking of waterways, nighttime navigation and non-compliance of boats with regulations.
It is crucial that concrete actions are taken to guarantee the safety of river journeys in DR Congo. An action plan should be developed to improve navigation conditions on the Congo River, so that it can fully play its role as a waterway and contribute to the economic development of the country.
In the meantime, it is important to remember that shipwrecks on the Congo River are preventable and that lives could be saved if strict safety measures were put in place. It is essential to raise public awareness of the risks associated with river navigation and to strengthen controls to ensure that boats comply with safety standards.
DR Congo can no longer afford to lose so many lives in preventable accidents. It is time to take urgent measures to ensure safe river journeys and protect the lives of passengers. The country’s economic development also depends on the security of its communication routes.