Central African Republic: 50 kill in boat capsize

Around 50 people on their way to a village funeral died after their riverboat capsized in the Central African Republic’s capital Bangui on Friday, an official said.

“We were alerted 40 minutes after the incident and rescuers were able to extract around 50 lifeless bodies,” civil protection department head Thomas Djimasse told Reuters.

He added, in an interview, that the search was continuing with more people possibly drowned in the Mpoko River.

Government spokesperson Maxime Balalou gave a death toll and called for better compliance with river transport safety regulations.

Reuters/Hauwa M.