At least 60 people have died after a boat carrying 700 capsized in the Congo river in the Mai-Ndombe province on Monday. The vessel sunk near the village of Longola Ekoti in western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The boat had departed from Kinshasa and was heading to Equator province, ANI reported.
The rescue team has so far rescued 300 survivors. Steve Mbikayi, minister for humanitarian action said an overload of goods and excess passengers on a whaling boat is the possible cause of the sinking. In the mineral-rich nation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, boat accidents are common due to overloading of passengers and cargo. The poor condition of the vessels and non-compliance with navigational systems is another reason for boat accidents to be common.
In May 2020, when a vessel capsized on Lake Kivu, 10 people died. More than 135 people died when a boat capsized in the province of Bandundu in July 2010.
"We sympathise with the bereaved families and demand sanctions against all those responsible," Mbikayi said.
