2024 Kwa River disaster

Due to the fact that there are few paved roads in the Congo, rivers and lakes are often used to transport goods and people.{{cite web |date=13 June 2024 |title=U Demokratskoj Republici Kongo u potonuću broda poginulo najmanje 80 putnika |url=https://federalna.ba/public/u-demokratskoj-republici-kongo-u-potonucu-broda-poginulo-najmanje-80-putnika-1epqv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619140156/https://federalna.ba/public/u-demokratskoj-republici-kongo-u-potonucu-broda-poginulo-najmanje-80-putnika-1epqv |archive-date=19 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=federalna.ba |url-status=live }} Boat overcrowding and poor safety measures on ships have long been significant problems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.{{cite news |last1=Harden |first1=Blaine |title=Overloaded, smelly and mean: traveling poor in Africa |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/11/09/overloaded-smelly-and-mean-traveling-poor-in-africa/b95e9c87-5e6d-4f12-b3ee-c2aa94bf3726/ |access-date=16 June 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=8 November 1987 |archive-date=16 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616055058/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/11/09/overloaded-smelly-and-mean-traveling-poor-in-africa/b95e9c87-5e6d-4f12-b3ee-c2aa94bf3726/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Citera |first1=Patrice |title=Lax safety makes Congo river travel dangerous |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39028085 |access-date=16 June 2024 |work=CNN |date=6 September 2010 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207081432/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39028085 |url-status=dead }} Not all passengers are able to swim and they are rarely provided with lifevests.{{cite news |last1=Citera |first1=Patrice |title=Lax safety makes Congo river travel dangerous |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/dr-congo-boat-disaster-kills-162536368.html |access-date=12 June 2024 |work=news.yahoo.com |date=6 September 2010 }}

A ferry capsized on the Kasai River in 2010, killing between 80 and 140 people.{{cite news |title=DR Congo boat sinking 'kills 140' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-10807021 |access-date=16 June 2024 |work=BBC World News |date=29 July 2010 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124235852/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-10807021 |url-status=live }} Another overcrowded ship was overturned in Mbandaka and killed at least 52 in October 2023.{{cite news |last1=Prentice |first1=Alessandra |last2=Rolley |first2=Sonia |last3=Kasongo |first3=Ange |title=Death toll from Congo boat accident rises to 52 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/death-toll-congo-boat-accident-rises-52-2023-10-16/ |access-date=16 June 2024 |work=Reuters |date=16 October 2023 |archive-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022170732/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/death-toll-congo-boat-accident-rises-52-2023-10-16/ |url-status=live }} More recently, a boat capsized on Lake Kivu in the eastern part of the country in January 2024, killing most of its 50 passengers.{{cite news |last1=Kamale |first1=Jean-Yves |title=Dozens are presumed dead after an overloaded boat capsizes on Lake Kivu in Congo |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/01/29/dozens-are-presumed-dead-after-an-overloaded-boat-capsizes-on-lake-kivu-in-congo/ |access-date=16 June 2024 |agency=Associated Press |date=13 February 2024 |archive-date=16 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616054941/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/01/29/dozens-are-presumed-dead-after-an-overloaded-boat-capsizes-on-lake-kivu-in-congo/ |url-status=live }}

On 10 June 2024 at around 23:00 CAT (UTC +2:00), an overloaded ship heading from Mushie to the town of Lebida{{Cite web |title=Over 80 killed in boat accident in western Congo |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/over-80-killed-in-boat-accident-in-western-congo-101718207134478.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614052859/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/over-80-killed-in-boat-accident-in-western-congo-101718207134478.html |archive-date=14 June 2024 |access-date=15 June 2024}} experienced engine failure, and crashed either into the shore{{cite web|date=15 June 2024|title=DR Congo shipwreck kills more than 80 people|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/dr-congo-shipwreck-kills-more-80-people/ar-BB1o6t3j|access-date=15 June 2024|website=MSN|archive-date=15 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615135705/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/dr-congo-shipwreck-kills-more-80-people/ar-BB1o6t3j|url-status=live}} or into a second boat{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/over-80-killed-boat-accident-congos-mai-ndombe-province-president-tshisekedi-2024-06-12/ |title=Over 80 killed in boat accident in western Congo |date=12 June 2024 |website=Reuters}} and sank in the Kasai River.{{cite web |date=15 June 2024 |title=Over 80 Killed After Boat Capsizes In Congo's Kwa River Due To Engine Failure |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/over-80-killed-after-boat-capsizes-in-congo-s-kwa-river-due-to-engine-failure/ar-BB1o7wZf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616054919/https://login.microsoftonline.com/common/oauth2/v2.0/authorize?client_id=d7b530a4-7680-4c23-a8bf-c52c121d2e87&scope=User.Read%20openid%20profile%20offline_access&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.msn.com%2Fstaticsb%2Fstatics%2Flatest%2Fauth%2Fauth-redirect-blank.html&client-request-id=6aa183b9-3488-4ecf-9e7a-15fb8b389791&response_mode=fragment&response_type=code&x-client-SKU=msal.js.browser&x-client-VER=2.18.0&x-client-OS=&x-client-CPU=&client_info=1&code_challenge=FSxGrUOC3N4V3wn1vjGpN-gH0M4UoagZvJP_4H6Q-8M&code_challenge_method=S256&prompt=none&nonce=133c5821-2a53-4cdf-84f5-1b31058c0247&state=eyJpZCI6ImM5ZWE1MTYwLWMzY2QtNGU1ZS1iN2ViLTc1Zjg2OTQ1NDIxZiIsIm1ldGEiOnsiaW50ZXJhY3Rpb25UeXBlIjoic2lsZW50In19&sso_reload=true |archive-date=16 June 2024 |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=MSN}}

The incident occurred in Mai-Ndombe Province, about {{Convert|70|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Mushie. Out of 271 people on the ship, 86 died, including 21 children. Over 100 people were rescued, and according to a Mushi District commissioner, as many as 185 were able to swim to the shore.{{cite web|date=15 June 2024|title=More than 80 passengers killed in the latest boat accident in Congo|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2529456/world|access-date=15 June 2024|website=arabnews.com|archive-date=13 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613090741/https://www.arabnews.com/node/2529456/world|url-status=live}}

According to one official, the boat was carrying bags of cement in addition to the passengers, and was overloaded.

President Félix Tshisekedi said that victims will receive assistance and an investigation would be conducted into the cause of the disaster.

• 2021 Congo River disaster
• 2024 Bangui river disaster

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{{coord missing|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}

{{2024 shipwrecks}}

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Category:2024 disasters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Category:Transport disasters in 2024

2024 disaster

Category:Transport disasters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Category:June 2024 in Africa

Category:Mai-Ndombe Province

Category:Shipwrecks of Africa

Category:Shipwrecks in rivers