At least 148 people have been confirmed dead after a boat carrying more than 500 passengers capsized in the Congo River in the northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday. Authorities report that hundreds more remain missing, despite earlier reports estimating around 50 fatalities. The vessel, named HB Kongolo, caught fire while en route to the city of Mbandaka from Matankumu port in the Bolomba region, Équateur Province. At least 100 people survived, while several others with burn injuries were taken to nearby hospitals. The fire reportedly started when a woman aboard the b

At least 148 people have been confirmed dead after a boat carrying more than 500 passengers capsized in the Congo River in the northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday. Authorities report that hundreds more remain missing, despite earlier reports estimating around 50 fatalities. The vessel, named HB Kongolo, caught fire while en route to the city of Mbandaka from Matankumu port in the Bolomba region, Équateur Province. At least 100 people survived, while several others with burn injuries were taken to nearby hospitals. The fire reportedly started when a woman aboard the boat was cooking. It quickly spread through the wooden vessel, causing panic. Some women and children jumped into the river to escape the flames but drowned, unable to swim.

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