30 dead and 200 missing after boat sinking in Congo

5/29/2019 - 6:35:57 PM

At least 30 people died and hundreds were believed missing after a boat carrying more than 350 passengers capsized on a lake in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Rescue work of a boat sinking.

"So far, we have recovered 30 bodies: 12 women, 11 children and seven men," Simon Mbo Wemba, the mayor of the town of Innogo in western Congo said.

Mr. Simon Mboo Wemba also said local divers leading the search operation have found 183 survivors from the site of the sinking. Many of those aboard the boat that sank on Lake Mai-Ndombe were teachers.

The mayor says they were traveling to collect their salaries by boat because roads in the region are so poor.

River transport is heavily used in DRC with its numerous waterways. Boat mishaps are common on the lakes and rivers of the country.

Accidents are typically caused by overloading of passengers and cargo on rickety vessels. The toll is often heavy because there are no life jackets and many Congolese do not know how to swim.

In 2015, more than 100 people were declared missing after two boats collided on the Congo river, according to the World Health Organization./.

Source: CPV

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