2024 Kasai River disaster

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2024 Congo River disaster
Sunset view from Kalonda.jpg
Sunset view from Kalonda
Date12 June 2024
Location Democratic Republic of the Congo
TypeShip sinking
DeathsAt least 86 (including 21 children) [1]

On 12 June 2024, the ship HB la Saintet sank in the Kasai River, a tributary of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 86 people [2] including 21 children. [1]

Contents

Background

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] A ferry capsized on the Kasai River in 2010, killing between 80 and 140 people. [6] Another overcrowded ship was overturned in Mbandaka and killed at least 52 in October 2023. [7] More recently, a boat capsized on Lake Kivu in the eastern part of the country in January 2024, killing most of its 50 passengers. [8]

Events

On 12 June 2024 at around 23:00 CAT (UTC +2:00), an overloaded ship heading from Mushie to the town of Lebida [9] experienced engine failure, and crashed either into the shore [10] or into a second boat [11] and sank in the Kasai River. [12]

The incident occurred in the province of Mai-Ndombe, 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. [13] According to one official, the boat was carrying bags of cement in addition to the passengers, and was overloaded. [8]

President Félix Tshisekedi assured that victims will receive assistance and an investigation would be conducted into the cause of this sinkage. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo</span> Transport systems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ground transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has always been difficult. The terrain and climate of the Congo Basin present serious barriers to road and rail construction, and the distances are enormous across this vast country. Furthermore, chronic economic mismanagement and internal conflict has led to serious under-investment over many years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capsizing</span> Action where a vessel turns on to its side or is upside down

Capsizing or keeling over occurs when a boat or ship is rolled on its side or further by wave action, instability or wind force beyond the angle of positive static stability or it is upside down in the water. The act of recovering a vessel from a capsize is called righting. Capsize may result from broaching, knockdown, loss of stability due to cargo shifting or flooding, or in high speed boats, from turning too fast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo</span>

Rail transport is provided in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo (SNCC), the Société commerciale des transports et des ports (SCTP) (previously Office National des Transports until 2011), and the Office des Chemins de fer des Ueles (CFU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mai-Ndombe Province</span> Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mai-Ndombe is one of the 21 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo created in the 2015 repartitioning. Mai-Ndombe, Kwango, and Kwilu provinces are the result of the dismemberment of the former Bandundu province. Mai-Ndombe was formed from the Plateaux and Mai-Ndombe districts. The town of Inongo was elevated to capital city of the new province.

The 2009 Gianh River boat accident occurred on 25 January 2009 on the Gianh River near Quảng Hải Village, in the Quảng Trạch District of Quảng Bình Province in Vietnam. A wooden boat sank 20 meters from the shore in strong currents during windy conditions. There were reportedly over 80 people on board, yet the boat was capable of carrying only 20. The accident caused 42 deaths and five people were missing. The Prime Minister of Vietnam sent his condolences to the victims' families. The government of Quảng Bình Province decided to cancel the fireworks supposed to take place at midnight the same day, on the eve of Tết, the New Year Day in Vietnam.

Mushie is a town in Mai-Ndombe province, Democratic Republic of the Congo and is the administrative center of Mushie Territory. It lies at an elevation of 1118 ft, on the northern bank of the Kasai River at its confluence with the Fimi River. Mushie's population is roughly 33,000. Mushie was the birthplace of the celebrated Congolese musician Papa Wendo. The town is served by Mushie Airport.

On 29 July 2010, an overloaded passenger ferry capsized on the Kasai River in Bandundu province, east of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At least 80 people were confirmed to have died, with other accounts putting this figure closer to 140.

On 30 April 2012, a ferry carrying about 350 passengers capsized in the Brahmaputra River in the Dhubri district of Assam in Northeast India. The disaster killed at least 108 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Lake Albert boat disaster</span> Capsizing of a boat on Lake Albert in 2014

On March 22, 2014, a boat traveling on Africa's Lake Albert capsized. According to local police, 45 survivors were rescued. Officially, 251 people died in the accident.

The following lists events that happened during 2014 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Patna boat accident</span> Boat capsizing incident in India

On 14 January 2017, a boat carrying more than 40 passengers capsized in the Ganges in the Indian city of Patna, Bihar, killing 25 people. The boat was about to reach the bank when it capsized. Overloading is suspected to be the cause of the accident.

On 21 March 2019, a ferry carrying passengers on the Tigris River near Mosul capsized and sank, killing 103 people, 12 of them children. The capsize was caused by overcrowding on-board the vessel, and by high water levels on the Tigris. Many of the passengers were celebrating the Kurdish New Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Congo River disaster</span> Ship sinking

On 15 February 2021, a ship sank in the Congo River in Mai-Ndombe province, near Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo killing at least 60 people.

On 30 November 2021, a severely overloaded boat carrying more than 50 people, mostly children aged between 8 and 15, capsized on the Watari Dam in Kano State, Nigeria. At least 29 are confirmed dead and 13 more are missing.

On 12 June 2023, a vessel capsized and split in two in the Niger River near Pategi, Kwara State, Nigeria. The boat was carrying attendees of a wedding, who came initially on motorcycles, but were stranded due to heavy rain. At least 108 people have been confirmed dead. Dozens are missing.

Events of the year 2024 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

References

  1. 1 2 "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.
  2. 1 2 "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.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "DR Congo boat sinking 'kills 140'". BBC World News. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. 1 2 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.
  9. ↑ "Over 80 killed in boat accident in western Congo". Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "DR Congo shipwreck kills more than 80 people". MSN. 15 June 2024. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Over 80 killed in boat accident in western Congo". Reuters. 12 June 2024.
  12. 1 2 "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.
  13. ↑ "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.

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