30 dead in DR Congo boat accident

At least 30 people died and dozens more were missing on Sunday after a boat accident on a lake in western Democratic Republic of Congo, a local mayor said, Agence France-Presse reported.

"So far, we have recovered 30 bodies, 12 women, 11 children and seven men," said the mayor of Inongo, Simon Mbo Wemba, adding that there had been more than 350 passengers on board the boat with only 183 survivors.

The accident happened on Saturday night on Lake Mai-Ndombe, many of those aboard the boat were teachers.

The mayor said they had traveled to collect their salaries by boat because roads in the region are so poor, according to The Associated Press.

"The toll is still provisional," the mayor said, adding that it was difficult to know the exact number of passengers as many could have been illegal immigrants.

River transport is much used in DR Congo with its numerous waterways. Boat mishaps are common, typically caused by overloading of passengers and cargo.

Death tolls are often high because there are no life jackets and many people do not know how to swim.

Last month, at least 167 people died in two accidents, prompting the country's President Felix Tshisekedi to make it mandatory for boat passengers to have life buoys.

Twenty-seven people were reported drowned in a boat sinking in September last year, 26 last July, another 50 last May, and 40 people in April.

(China Daily 05/28/2019 page12)