DR Congo boat collision kills at least 30, dozens missing

What the report says

A boat collision on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has left at least 30 people dead and dozens missing, according to Al Jazeera’s report published on October 5, 2026. The crash happened on Sunday evening near the Ngombe-Lukolela area in Equateur province, in the northwest of the country, when two vessels struck each other while traveling on the river.

Crispin Mputu, the interior minister of Equateur province, said the incident involved a metal vessel, identified as "Dieu se cache," which was reportedly coming from Kinshasa, and a wooden vessel, "HB Super Victoire," that was traveling from Businga. He said many passengers were trapped underwater and the boat also sank. Officials said search-and-rescue operations were underway to find the missing, and that those who drowned had already been buried.

The cause of the crash remains unclear, but the report noted that night travel, overcrowding and weak safety standards are common problems on rivers in DR Congo. In remote areas, limited infrastructure and heavily loaded boats have long contributed to deadly accidents. The latest disaster adds to a pattern of frequent boating tragedies in the country, including a similar fatal sinking reported in July in Kasai province.