Move FM Global News

KINHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – In a horrific and devastating road accident on Saturday, over 50 people were killed and more than 100 others suffered injuries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The incident, which took place on a national highway in the country’s western province of Kongo Central, involved an oil tanker, which collided with a parked truck. 

According to the acting governor of the region, following the crash, dozens of villages rushed to collect the fuel that began leaking from the oil tanker, when the vehicle caught fire and exploded. 

Officials said that the accident took place in the Mbuba village, which is about 200 kms southwest of Kinshasa, the country’s capital city. 

The collision occurred close to Kisantu city, which is on the main highway between Kinshasa and the Matadi seaport. 

According to a statement released by Séguin Singuela, Police Commissioner of Kongo Central, the accident occurred late in the day.

He added that investigators suspect visibility problems could have led to the crash.

Singuela added that apart from the oil tanker and the truck it collided with, a third vehicle caught fire after crashing into the accident scene.

Meanwhile, the interim governor of Kongo Central region, Atou Matabuana issued a statement post the incident and confirmed, “We have about 50 dead and about 100 people have suffered second degree burns.”

Some reports noted that there were “53 charred bodies,” post the incident and added that the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals to receive emergency treatment. 

Matabuana added in his statement that local authorities had “taken measures to take charge of all the victims.”

Meanwhile, in its report, the UN’s Okapi radio noted, “The flames spread rapidly, engulfing nearby houses.”

After visiting the scene of the accident, DRC Health Minister Oly Ilunga told reporters, “The toll continues to evolve so far, especially for those who are burned to the second degree by fire. We try to do our best to evacuate the maximum possible casualties to hospitals in Kinshasa for appropriate care.”

According to authorities in the central African nation, several ambulances were deployed by local and national bodies, along with many sent by the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC.

The ambulances helped evacuate the victims to the Congolese hospital in Kinshasa.

On Sunday, the national broadcaster RTNC carried a televised statement by the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila, who declared a three-day national mourning for the victims of the highway tragedy.

Calling for an immediate investigation into the incident, Kabila called on authorities to offer their full assistance to those injured in the incident.

He also urged officials to help the families of victims in organizing funerals. 

The incident on Saturday was one of the worst in the country since 2010, when a tanker truck overturned in South Kivu province, leaving around 200 people dead.

At the time, authorities had stated that many of the victims had gathered to collect the fuel leaking from the overturned oil tanker, which then exploded and even set parts of a closeby village on fire. 

On Sunday, central government officials announced that a team led by the country’s Transportation Minister had been dispatched  to the accident spot.