About 38 people died and more than 100 went missing after a boat carrying people attending Christmas sank in the Busira River.
At least 38 people have died and more than 100 others are missing after a boat carrying Christmas pilgrims capsized in a river in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to officials and witnesses.
So far 20 people have been rescued after a boat capsized on Friday in the Busira River. It was traveling as part of a convoy of other ships and the passengers were traders returning home for Christmas, said Joseph Joseph Kangolingoli, the Mayor of Ingende, which is the last town on the river before the accident site.
According to a resident of Ingende Ndolo Kaddy, this boat carried “more than 400 people because it was made of two ports, Ingende and Loolo, on the way to Boende, so there is reason to believe that many have died”, reported the Associated Press.
Central government authorities have yet to comment on the incident and provide further details about rescue plans. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the death toll reported by the AP.
Congolese officials often warn against overloading boats and have promised to punish those who violate safety measures on the rivers. However, in remote areas, many people cannot afford public transportation on the few roads available.
This incident occurred less than four days after another boat capsized in the northeast of the country, killing 25 people.
At least 78 people drowned in October when a boat reportedly carrying hundreds of passengers capsized in Lake Kivu, in the east of the country.
Another 80 lost their lives in a similar accident that occurred in the Kwa River, about 70 kilometers from Mushie town in Mai-Ndombe province, near Kinshasa, in June.
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