At least 49 people were killed and 120 others are missing after a boat capsized Saturday in Mbandaka city on the Congo River in northwest Equateur Province, Anadolu Agency reported.
“The boat was traveling to Bolomba when it tipped over at night, which is illegal,” Nganzi told reporters.
“On board were passengers and cargo which included construction materials,” he said. “The search for the missing is ongoing.”
Nganzi said the dead included children, noting the death toll was provisional.
The accident was attributed to overloading, as witnesses confirmed the private boat was carrying 500 bags of cement and iron bars.
