Title: Tragedy on the Congo River: a new shipwreck leaves dozens of victims
Introduction :
In a country where travel is mainly by river, shipwrecks are unfortunately common in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The latest, which occurred on the Congo River, cost the lives of at least 47 people and many others are missing. This tragic accident once again highlights the dangers that residents of this central African country face when traveling.
The circumstances of the sinking:
The “whaling” type boat, which provided the link between Mbandaka and the territory of Bolomba in the province of Équateur, capsized during the night from Friday to Saturday. The first elements of the investigation indicate that the overloading of the boat could be the cause of the accident. Indeed, the passengers’ manifest having not been found, it is difficult to know the exact number of people on board at the time of the sinking. It is also important to note that night navigation and the use of wooden boats are prohibited for safety reasons.
The scale of the tragedy:
The provisional report shows at least 47 bodies recovered, while many other passengers are still missing. The search for the missing continues with the help of local authorities. This umpteenth tragedy unfortunately reminds us of the vulnerability of river transport in DR Congo, where shipwrecks are commonplace. Survivors often face difficult rescue conditions, particularly due to the lack of adequate infrastructure on the banks of the river.
Call for measures to prevent such tragedies:
Faced with this new tragedy, President Félix Tshisekedi asked the government to take measures to avoid such shipwrecks in the future. He insisted on the need for better compliance with safety rules, such as prohibiting overloading of boats and night navigation, as well as the establishment of effective markings on waterways. The president also stressed the importance of developing an action plan to exploit the economic potential of the Congo River while ensuring the safety of travelers.
Conclusion :
This new shipwreck on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo once again highlights the risks to which residents are exposed during their travels. Overloading and non-compliance with safety rules remain major problems that must be resolved to prevent such tragedies. It is essential that the authorities put in place concrete measures to improve the safety of river transport and ensure the protection of travelers in this Central African country.