At least 107 killed in DR Congo as boat sinks in river

According to an internal government report seen by Reuters, at least 107 people died after a whale death in the west of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ministry of Social Affairs, said in the note, boat – a narrow, double -ended open ship – Thursday evening in the Lukolela region near the Malange Villa burned fire on the Congo River and 146 people were missing, he said.

Note, rescue teams, after burning and drifting down the ship, many wounded 209 survivors saved, he said.

The fire also destroyed the cargo on the ship and fired the houses on the edge of 15 rivers.

While the search operations continued on Friday by merging the banks and community volunteers, the authorities committed medical care for the wounded, assistance to mourning families, and sending them back to their arrival and destination.

River transportation is a life line in Dr Congo’s wide rain forest areas, where old wooden ships are the main way of transportation between the villages, but accidents are frequent due to overloading, weak care and use of river boats at night.

The accident comes on Wednesday night after a river boat sank on Wednesday in the Great Maringa rivers in the Basankusi region of NSOLO, and after a river boat died in a separate shipwreck.

Civil society activist Akula Mboyo said in a statement, “Motor canoe… officially banned due to open overload and night navigation.” He said.

Rescue operations are usually prevented by limited resources and remote accidents.

Reuters could not independently confirm the death fee in Basankusu, and the authorities could not be reached immediately for comment.