The tragedy took place overnight Monday into Tuesday near the town of Bumba in the northwestern province of Mongala, where nine carved out canoes were attached to each other and overturned after being filled beyond safe capacity, according to local authorities and survivors, Associated Press reported.
At least 61 bodies have been found, said Mongala’s provincial minister of transport and communications José Misiso. More than 100 remain missing, including children and women, he said, adding that this is an estimate given there are no manifestos for such boats.
“We have saved at least 30 people,” he added.
Shipwrecks are recurrent on the Congo River and on the nation’s lakes because of makeshift boats that are often overloaded. The majority of the population uses the rivers in the northwest because of a lack of good roads and because it is a less expensive form of transport. The industry, however, is not well regulated.
Boats and ships capsize on the Congo River and lakes is intermittent due to temporary boats that often carry heavy loads.
The majority of people use the rivers of northwestern Congo due to the lack of proper roads and the cheapness of this type of transportation.
MA/PR
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