- At least 30 people have died and dozens remain missing after two motorised wooden vessels collided on the Congo River near Ngombe-Lukolela in Equateur province on Sunday evening.
- The collision involved one boat travelling from Ubangi to Kinshasa and another en route from Kinshasa to Lukolela, with search operations currently ongoing for remaining victims.
- Local provincial interior minister Crispin Mputu confirmed that the 30 victims recovered following the crash have already been buried, whilst search efforts continue.
- An anonymous security forces witness stated that the vessel coming from Ubangi was overloaded with goods and quickly sank upon impact, trapping passengers underwater.
- Fatal maritime disasters are common in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where overcrowded vessels, night-time navigation, poor safety standards, and inadequate infrastructure frequently lead to high death tolls.
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