KINSHASA, Congo — A boat carrying nearly 500 passengers capsized in northwestern Congo, resulting in at least 107 fatalities and leaving 146 people unaccounted for, according to authorities. The incident occurred on Thursday along the Congo River in the Lukolela territory of Equateur Province. This tragedy follows another deadly boat accident in the same province just a day earlier, where 86 people died, many of whom were students.

The Congolese humanitarian affairs ministry reported the details of the accidents. The earlier incident took place in Basankusu territory, raising the total death toll from both accidents to nearly 200. The causes of these accidents remain unclear. However, state media have suggested that the first accident was due to "improper loading and night navigation."

Images from the scene depicted villagers mourning as they gathered around the bodies of the victims. A local civil society organization has criticized the government, claiming that the death toll is higher than reported. Authorities have not yet responded to requests for comments regarding these claims.

Boat capsizings have become increasingly common in Congo, as many people opt for wooden vessels due to the poor condition of available roads. These boats are often overloaded with passengers and cargo, and life jackets are rarely provided. Additionally, many vessels operate at night, which complicates rescue efforts and often results in unaccounted bodies after accidents.