**The shipwreck on the Kwango River in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a tragedy of worrying magnitude**
The tragedy that took place on the Kwango River in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to arouse emotion and consternation. Last Wednesday, new bodies, mainly those of children, were found downstream from the village of Pont Kwango, bringing the official death toll to 12. A tragedy that highlights the risks to which communities living along rivers in this country are exposed.
The Vice-Governor of Kwango, Rémy Saki, announced the discovery of the bodies by fishermen, but unfortunately, they could not be recovered due to the powerful force of the river current. Searches are underway to find other potential victims and to recover the property lost in this shipwreck.
This latest tragedy is the latest in a series of similar accidents that regularly bring mourning to riverside communities in the DRC. The causes of these accidents are multiple and include overloading of boats, the dilapidated state of the boats, bad weather and the lack of control by the competent authorities.
The boat involved in this accident came from Tembo (Kasongo Lunda) and was heading towards Kinshasa before hitting the Kwango bridge post. Survivors testify that nearly 150 people were on board, which raises the question of overloading of the boat combined with bad weather conditions as a probable cause of this tragedy.
This shipwreck had devastating humanitarian consequences, plunging many families into mourning and creating a shock wave within the community. Provincial authorities and humanitarian organizations have mobilized efforts to help the victims and their families. However, questions remain about the safety of river transport in the DRC and the urgent need to strengthen controls to avoid new disasters.
In conclusion, the shipwreck on the Kwango River in the DRC illustrates the fragility and dangers faced by riverside populations, but it also highlights the urgent need for coordinated action to ensure the safety of travelers on the country’s waterways. Only collective awareness and concrete measures will prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future.