Boat Tragedy in Congo: 86 Deaths, Primarily Students Among the Victims

A catastrophic boat accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in the deaths of at least 86 people. The incident unfolded in the Equateur province, near Basankusu. The accident involved a motorized boat that capsized, claiming numerous lives, with a large proportion of the victims being students. The vessel was overloaded with passengers and goods. Authorities reported the boat was navigating at night when it lost equilibrium, leading to the capsizing. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing to find missing individuals. Local authorities and rescue teams, supported by residents from nearby villages, are actively involved in the search. The victims primarily consisted of students travelling from their homes for educational purposes, bringing devastation to many families. The incident has been attributed to improper loading and night-time navigation, a common factor in these types of accidents in the region, which often result from a lack of safety compliance.