A tragic shipwreck on the Kwa River in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has claimed at least 25 lives, with several passengers still unaccounted for, according to local reports.
The incident occurred early Monday near the Mushie district in Mai-Ndombe province. Authorities said the boat, which departed port at 11 p.m., capsized due to instability and nighttime navigation—factors frequently blamed for accidents on Congo’s rivers.
Among the passengers were local football players from the village of Ngambomi, returning from a match in Mushie. Over 30 survivors have been rescued so far, but search efforts remain hampered by logistical constraints.
“The main reason was overnight sailing. The vessel left port at 11 pm and was unbalanced,” said provincial government spokesperson Alexis Mputu.
Renacle Kwatiba, head of the Mushie district, noted that emergency responders were delayed due to a lack of fuel, further complicating rescue operations.
River transport remains a primary mode of travel across the DRC, where poor infrastructure and lax enforcement of safety regulations often contribute to deadly accidents.
