At least 27 people have perished and 54 are missing after an overcrowded boat sank in a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a local official said on Sunday.
Most of the victims of the tragedy on the Kasai river were students on holiday, local administrator Jacques Mbila said.
Rigorous” checks had confirmed “at this stage” the numbers of dead and missing in the accident, which happened overnight Thursday to Friday, the administrator of Idiofa territory, Jacques Mbila, said.
Earlier, in another terrible incident in June, at least nine people died whereas 28 went missing after a tourist boat had sunk for unknown reasons in a reservoir in Colombia.
The boat had left Dibaya in the restive central Kasai province on Thursday, heading north-west for its final destination of Ilebo more than 500 kilometres (300 miles) away.
Such transport is one of the most used in DR Congo with its numerous waterways including the Kasai river, the country’s second longest after the mighty Congo at over 2,360 kilometres.
Boats frequently capsize in DR Congo, most often due to taking on too many passengers, the lack of safety measures and inexperienced helmsmen.
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