At least 32 people have died and dozens remain missing after two overcrowded boats capsized in Lake Tumba, located in Equateur Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, local authorities confirmed on Thursday.

The boats, carrying more than 100 passengers, departed from Bikoro port on the eastern shore of the lake on Wednesday afternoon. According to a statement from the Provincial Coordination of the Panel of Civil Society Experts of Equateur, the vessels left despite “clear overloading and unstable weather conditions.”

“Witnesses reported that the overcrowding was so severe that passengers were being turned away from the canoes,” said Akula Dieu, a member of the civil society group.

Gabriel Ifulu Bongolomba, the Lake Commissioner in Bikoro, said that the vessels had been privately requisitioned by a family to transport people to a funeral. The departure point was not authorised, further complicating safety oversight.

Heavy rainfall and waves struck the overloaded boats shortly after departure, causing them to capsize. Rescue operations were launched, but Bongolomba said the efforts have been hampered by limited resources, including a shortage of life jackets, fuel, and proper rescue boats.

“We’re forced to requisition private boats for this type of operation, but sometimes we don’t even have enough fuel to carry out our work properly,” he said.

Deadly boat accidents are tragically frequent in the DRC, where lax enforcement of safety regulations and routine overloading continue to pose grave risks for waterway passengers. Local officials have called for urgent investment in maritime safety and stronger regulation to prevent further loss of life.

Melissa Enoch

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