At least 107 people, mostly students, died after a whaleboat caught fire and capsized on the Congo River near Malange village, DR Congo.

The blaze left 146 missing, while 209 survivors were rescued, many injured.

Cargo was destroyed, and 15 riverside homes burned. Search operations continue as authorities promise aid for victims.

Boat accidents are common in Congo, where overloaded, poorly maintained vessels serve as vital transport.

Just days earlier, another shipwreck killed 86 in Basankusu territory after a motorized canoe sank due to overloading and illegal night travel. Limited resources and remote locations often hinder rescue efforts.