At least 148 people died in a fire on a ship in Congo.

A tragedy occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the Congo River, resulting in the death of 148 people, with more than 100 considered missing. The fire broke out on a boat carrying around 500 passengers. The cause of the blaze was cooking on board the vessel. Many people, including children, were forced to jump into the water, unable to swim, which led to their death. Reports indicate that about 100 people have been rescued, but the rescue operation is ongoing. Tragedies on water transport in Congo are common due to overcrowding of vessels, lack of safety control, and limited infrastructure. Rivers remain the primary means of transportation in the country. It should be noted that just a few days ago, a similar tragedy occurred on Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in the death of 78 people. Additionally, in the South Kivu province, there was a flood that caused the death of over 200 people.