2024 Kwa River disaster
 Sunset view from Kalonda | |
| Date | 12 June 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Type | Ship sinking |
| Deaths | At least 86 (including 21 children)[1] |
On 10 June 2024, the ship HB la Saintet sank in the Kwa River, a tributary of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 86 people[2] including 21 children.[1]
Background
[edit]Due to the fact that there are few paved roads in the Congo, rivers and lakes are often used to transport goods and people.[3] Boat overcrowding and poor safety measures on ships have long been significant problems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[4][5] Not all passengers are able to swim and they are rarely provided with lifevests.[6]
A ferry capsized on the Kasai River in 2010, killing between 80 and 140 people.[7] Another overcrowded ship was overturned in Mbandaka and killed at least 52 in October 2023.[8] More recently, a boat capsized on Lake Kivu in the eastern part of the country in January 2024, killing most of its 50 passengers.[9]
Events
[edit]On 10 June 2024 at around 23:00 CAT (UTC +2:00), an overloaded ship heading from Mushie to the town of Lebida[10] experienced engine failure, and crashed either into the shore[11] or into a second boat[12] and sank in the Kasai River.[13]
The incident occurred in Mai-Ndombe Province, about 70 km (43 mi) from Mushie. Out of 271 people on the ship, 86 died, including 21 children. Over 100 people were rescued,[2] and according to a Mushi District commissioner, as many as 185 were able to swim to the shore.[14]
According to one official, the boat was carrying bags of cement in addition to the passengers, and was overloaded.[9]
President Félix Tshisekedi said that victims will receive assistance and an investigation would be conducted into the cause of the disaster.[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "По меньшей мере 86 человек погибли в результате крушения судна на притоке реки Конго – местные источники". russian.people.com.cn. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Затонувшее судно в Конго: 80 пассажиров погибли". tinsider.com.tr. 15 June 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "U Demokratskoj Republici Kongo u potonuću broda poginulo najmanje 80 putnika". federalna.ba. 13 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Harden, Blaine (8 November 1987). "Overloaded, smelly and mean: traveling poor in Africa". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Citera, Patrice (6 September 2010). "Lax safety makes Congo river travel dangerous". CNN. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Citera, Patrice (6 September 2010). "Lax safety makes Congo river travel dangerous". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "DR Congo boat sinking 'kills 140'". BBC World News. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Prentice, Alessandra; Rolley, Sonia; Kasongo, Ange (16 October 2023). "Death toll from Congo boat accident rises to 52". Reuters. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ a b Kamale, Jean-Yves (13 February 2024). "Dozens are presumed dead after an overloaded boat capsizes on Lake Kivu in Congo". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Over 80 killed in boat accident in western Congo". Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "DR Congo shipwreck kills more than 80 people". MSN. 15 June 2024. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Over 80 killed in boat accident in western Congo". Reuters. 12 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Over 80 Killed After Boat Capsizes In Congo's Kwa River Due To Engine Failure". MSN. 15 June 2024. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "More than 80 passengers killed in the latest boat accident in Congo". arabnews.com. 15 June 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
