Death toll in Democratic Republic of Congo boat accident rises to nearly 30

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – The death toll from a boat accident in western Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 29 and an unknown number of people remain unaccounted for, a local official said Thursday.

The boat, with roughly 300 people on board, capsized last Sunday in the territory of Kutu in the Lukenie River in Mai-Ndombe province, leaving dozens of people missing.

It was heading to Nioki city from Oshwe when it sank at night.

“So far, 29 bodies including 15 women and one child have been recovered and buried. At least 120 survivors have been registered and the search continues,” Jacques Nzenza Mongie, the territory administrator, told reporters.

The boat reportedly hit tree trunks underwater before it overturned.

Mongie said overloading and poor vision are suspected to have caused the accident.

Water transport is common in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to mostly impassable roads.

The latest accident came two months after another boat capsized in June, killing more than 80 people in the Kwa River in the same province.