Ilebo, DR Congo—Rescue teams continued their grim work on Tuesday, recovering bodies from the site where a passenger boat capsized earlier this week. The vessel, carrying over 200 people, went under while navigating the confluence of the Kasai and Sankuru rivers. The death toll continues to rise as teams comb the riverbanks.

Local fishermen, who were the first to arrive at the scene, continue to assist authorities in the search. Survivors described a scene of pure panic as the overloaded boat listed and sank into the dark water. Many of those missing are believed to be trapped beneath the wreckage of the hull.

The regional administration has characterized the incident as a failure of basic safety regulations. Overloading remains a rampant issue in the region, where water transport is often the only available means of travel. Owners of the vessel are currently being sought for questioning by local police.

Medical supplies are being airlifted into the Ilebo territory to treat the survivors who were pulled from the water. Many are suffering from exposure and shock, having spent hours in the river before being rescued. The regional governor has called for a mandatory inspection of all commercial river craft.

Search operations are being hampered by strong currents and murky water conditions. Divers are finding it nearly impossible to reach the lower levels of the boat where many passengers were likely confined. The search area has been expanded downstream as teams look for further victims.

Families of the missing have gathered at the river port, waiting for news from the rescue coordination center. The loss of life is expected to climb as the search continues through the night. The river remains cold and difficult to navigate.

The disaster has highlighted the systemic lack of safety oversight on the country’s main waterways. Further recovery efforts are planned for tomorrow at daybreak.

The search remains active.