At least 30 dead after boats collide on Congo River
Officials say dozens are missing after two vessels collided near Ngombe-Lukolela. Search-and-rescue efforts are under way, and the cause remains unclear.
At least 30 people drowned and dozens were reported missing after two boats collided on the Congo River in Equateur province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, officials said. The collision occurred on Sunday evening near Ngombe-Lukolela.
Equateur provincial interior minister Crispin Mputu identified the vessels to state-owned news agency Agence Congolaise Presse as the metal boat Dieu se cache, travelling from Kinshasa, and the wooden boat HB Super Victoire, travelling from Businga.
Mputu said the people who drowned had been buried. Search-and-rescue efforts began to find those still missing. The number of passengers and survivors was not reported.
The cause of the collision is unclear. Mputu noted that boat accidents have occurred during night travel, but officials have not established what caused this crash.
A security officer who witnessed the incident told the Associated Press that the vessel from Kinshasa was carrying excess goods. That account has not been established as a cause of the collision.
