A boat capsized in the river after a fire in Congo, 148 people died; 500 people were on board:

A motorised wooden boat caught fire and capsized in the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 148 people.

How did the incident happen?

The boat was carrying 500 passengers, including women and children, when it capsized in the Congo River in the country's northwestern region on Tuesday, media reports quoted local authorities as saying on Friday.

Let us tell you, boat accidents are common in Congo. Old wooden ships are the main means of transportation between villages in Congo and they are often overloaded with goods. Because of this, boat accidents are very common in Congo.

Hundreds of people are missing

According to reports, officials estimate that hundreds of people are still missing. The death toll was earlier put at 50. The boat, named HB Kongolo, caught fire near the town of Mbandaka as it left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba region.

Around 100 survivors were taken to a temporary shelter at the local town hall, while those injured by burns were admitted to local hospitals, Sky News reported.

fire while cooking

River Commissioner Competente Loyoko told the Associated Press that the incident occurred when a woman was cooking on the ship when a fire broke out. Reports said that many passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water as they were unable to swim.