An overloaded wooden motorized boat capsized on Monday in the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in the deaths of at least four people and leaving around 40 others missing, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred on the Kwango River, a tributary of the Congo River, in the southwestern province of Kwango, said Deputy Governor Remy Saki.
“So far, four bodies have been recovered. Seventy-nine people have survived, but approximately 40 are still missing,” Saki reported, noting that rescue efforts are ongoing despite challenging conditions.
Saki added that it may take one or two days to locate the vessel and determine if any bodies remain trapped.
Jean-Baptiste Nkololo, the village chief of Port Kwango, explained that the boat struck a bridge before sinking. Passengers indicated that about 150 people were on board at the time of the accident.
Due to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s poor road infrastructure, boats are a common mode of transport for people and goods, often leading to accidents.
(Vanguard)
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