The accident occurred on Saturday in Mbandaka city on the Congo River in Equateur Province, TRT World reported citing provincial Deputy Governor Taylor Nganzi.
“The boat was traveling to Bolomba, a territory more than 300 kilometers from the port of Bankita in Mbandaka city, when it tipped over at night, which is illegal,” Nganzi told reporters.
“The search for the missing is ongoing.”
Nganzi said the dead included children, noting the death toll was provisional. The accident was attributed to overloading.
River transport is common in DRC due to mostly impassable roads, but vessels are prohibited from traveling at night to minimize accidents.
AMK/PR
