Congo Boat Fire Tragedy: 148 Dead, Over 100 Missing After Cooking Spark Ignites Disaster

Kinshasa: The death toll in the boat accident that happened earlier this week in Congo has increased from 50 to 148 and more than 100 people are still missing. Officials gave this information. Officials said that on Tuesday, after a fire broke out in northwestern Congo, the boat overturned, killing at least 148 people and hundreds went missing.

Many people are in critical condition

Dozens of people were rescued after the accident in the Congo River, although many of them were badly burnt. With the help of Red Cross and provincial officials, rescue teams started searching for the missing people on Wednesday. Due to high water level, relief and rescue work is getting difficult.

More than 400 passengers were on the boat

River Commissioner Competent Loyoko told the Associated Press that a motor-driven wooden boat caught fire near the city of Mbandaka. There were about 400 passengers on board. The boat named 'HB Kongolo' had left from Matankumu port for Bolomba region.

How did the boat catch fire?

It is being told that the fire broke out on the boat while cooking food. During that time, a spark from the stove engulfed the entire boat. This fire reached the containers of petrol kept for running the boat, which exploded with loud explosions. Due to this, the people on the boat did not even get a chance to escape.