The death toll will continue to rise due to dozens of people still missing.

On Tuesday, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) spokesman of the Kwilu province, David Obama, announced that authorities recovered 10 new bodies from the shipwreck on the Kwango River, which brings the total to 38 dead.

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The vessel was headed to Bandundu city with more than 700 sacks of corn, cassava, and charcoal. It had no official voyage registration, although it is estimated to have been carrying approximately 100 people.

The accident occurred on Sunday night near the village of Bolo, in the Bagata territory of Kwilu province. Initially, 28 bodies were recovered, but as rescue efforts continued, the total rose to 38 dead.

The death toll will continue to rise due to dozens of people still missing. The DRC government announced the closure of 240 illegal ports on rivers and lakes, used for transportation in a country with limited infrastructure and extensive rainforest.

#Burundi 🇧🇮 “Africa is under constant pressure from multiple global interests. To seize the continent’s vast resources, powerful nations fuel conflict and instability. They wage a shadow war invisible, yet ever-present, hidden behind diplomacy and false narratives. In this… pic.twitter.com/VenLvVbthJ

— Nadia MUGUNGA (@Nadia_MUGUNGA1) December 12, 2025

In April, a shipwreck on the Congo River left 148 dead after the vessel caught fire, and on September 11, 128 people died after a boat caught fire and sank in the west of the country. These incidents highlight the precarious state of transportation.

The vessels are often precarious, overloaded, and lack adequate signaling, which increases the risk of fatal accidents on the Congolese waterways.

Among the victims were several teachers traveling to Bandundu to collect their salaries. The cause of the accident remains unknown, while rescue teams continue working to recover missing bodies.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Africa: In the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 100 people died after the collapse of an artisanal copper mine in the town of Mulondo. Artisan miners’ associations confirmed the death toll of 100 and reported dozens missing. pic.twitter.com/ZD0z8CP3pe

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Source: EFE – La Jornada

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