A tragic river accident plunged the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into mourning on Sunday night. A boat carrying soccer players and other passengers capsized on the Kwa River in the province of Maï-Ndombe, killing 25 people.
The tragedy occurred as the players were returning from a match in Mushie. According to provincial spokesman Alexis Mputu, low visibility at night may have been the cause of the wreck. Despite the disaster, at least 30 people survived, said Renacle Kwatiba, the territory's administrator.
Boat accidents are unfortunately a frequent occurrence in the DRC, where the limited road infrastructure forces many inhabitants to take often overloaded boats. Non-compliance with safety regulations and night-time travel accentuate the risks, regularly resulting in considerable loss of life.
This tragedy is a reminder of the urgent need to improve river transport regulations to prevent further tragedies.
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