Congo: 72 killed after motorized boat capsized in river

Kinshasa: At least 72 people were killed after a motorized boat capsized in a river in Equateur province of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last week.

The authorities said the boat with 287 people on board sank in the Lulonga River. More than 140 people survived while over a 100 are missing.

The boat was moving towards the neighboring Republic of Congo when it sank at night on January 17 near the town of Basankusu.

The provincial Minister for Humanitarian Actions, Luc-Didier Mbula told the local media: “72 bodies were recovered and buried whereas 67 people are still missing while 148 people survived”.

Authorities stated that the boat was overloaded with people and goods.

The latest figures were released that were roughly 287 people on board.