A tragic ferry accident occurred late Friday night, December 20th, in the Burisa River (northeastern Congo), claiming 38 lives, with 100+ passengers still reported missing. Authorities confirmed the vessel was overloaded, carrying merchants traveling home for Christmas.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the ferry was part of a convoy and had taken on passengers at 2 ports - Ingende and Loolo - en route to Boende. It was reported to have been carrying 400+ people, far exceeding safe capacity. Despite repeated government warnings against overloading vessels, the practice remains widespread in remote areas due to limited and unaffordable transportation alternatives.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another boat accident in the Fimi River just 4 days earlier, which resulted in 25 fatalities. In that case, the vessel sank shortly after departure, with ~100 people and goods onboard.
Overloaded ferries and inadequate safety measures are persistent issues in Congo’s waterways. Earlier this year, 78 lives were lost in an eastern Congo boat accident, and in June, 80+ people perished in a similar tragedy near the capital, Kinshasa. The lack of flotation devices and enforcement of safety regulations remains a critical concern.
While Congolese authorities have introduced penalties for overloading, enforcement challenges persist, leaving passengers vulnerable. Public frustration is mounting as these recurring tragedies highlight the urgent need for infrastructure improvements and stricter maritime safety measures in the region.