An overloaded passenger boat has capsized in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At least 20 people died in connection with the accident in the western part of the country. The capsizing in the Lukenie River was likely caused by the wooden boat colliding with tree trunks.
Around 300 passengers were on board the boat, which was also heavily loaded with goods and luggage.
Yesterday, four bodies were found, and today we found 16 more, says regional authority chief Jacques Nzenza in the Kutu region.
Accidents occur repeatedly on the important transportation routes that the rivers constitute. Authorities have, for example, prohibited boat traffic at night.
The search for additional victims will continue on Wednesday, according to Nzenza.
