Aru, CONGOcTypeface:> At least 38 people have died in a boat accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo and dozens more are missing, according to James Basanga, a police officer of the city of Ingende. The accident occurred on the Busira River in the north-eastern province of Equateur late Friday, he told DPA.
The boat was overcrowded, he said. “Some say that there were over 300 people on the boat. But we can’t verify that because they weren’t counted when they boarded,” said Basanga.
Many of the passengers were heading home to their villages to celebrate Christmas, he said.
Police and volunteers are still working to find survivors.
Such accidents are frequent in Congo. The death toll are often very high, due to the age and poor condition of the vessels and overcrowding. In addition, few regulations govern the loading of ships. The dangerous security conditions in many parts of Congo and poorly developed road network mean the nation’s rivers and lakes are key transport routes. (DPA)
