Provincial government questioned over official toll of Lulua River shipwreck

A provincial assembly member has formally questioned the Kasaï-Central provincial government regarding its response to a deadly canoe accident on the Lulua River. More than a week after the capsizing, Papy-Noël Kanku is demanding an official casualty count and assistance for the families affected by the tragedy.

The incident occurred on August 5 near Bakua Mulamba Nkanga village when a boat carrying approximately 30 passengers, predominantly children, overturned. Search efforts following the accident recovered the bodies of six children, but several other passengers remain unaccounted for, according to Kanku.

Kanku expressed concern that no government delegation has visited the site to assess the situation or provide support to the grieving families. He is calling for urgent material and financial aid for the victims and their relatives. The assembly member also insists on the immediate release of a comprehensive official report detailing the number of survivors, fatalities, and missing persons.

Beyond immediate relief, Kanku urges the authorities to enhance safety regulations for river navigation in Kasaï-Central. This includes verifying compliance with safety standards on boats and imposing sanctions on those responsible for negligence that may have contributed to the disaster. The parliamentary initiative aims to secure answers from the provincial government and prevent future accidents on the region's waterways.