At least 20 people have been confirmed dead, with several others missing, after a passenger boat capsized on Lake Maï-Ndombe in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Local residents said the vessel was en route to Kinshasa when the incident occurred on Thursday night.
According to the Diocese of Inongo, “a newly ordained Catholic deacon was among the passengers on board.”
A resident of Inongo, Emmanuel Bola said “the boat departed from Kiri and capsized between the villages of Bobeni and Lobeke at about 8 p.m.”
The Congolese government is yet to release an official casualty figure.
Governor of Maï-Ndombe Province, Kevani Nkoso, told national television that details would be provided after emergency teams conclude their assessment.
Boat accidents are frequent in the region, where poor road networks force many to rely on wooden vessels that are often overloaded and lack life jackets. Many also travel at night, making rescue operations difficult and leaving numerous victims unaccounted for.
Earlier this month, another boat accident left 64 passengers missing, while more than 190 people died in similar tragedies in September, attributed to improper loading and night navigation.
Africanews / Hauwa M.