At least 86 people lost their lives when a motorized boat capsized on Wednesday evening in the Equateur province, located in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), local media reported on Friday.
According to these sources, the incident took place on the Baringa River within the Basankusu territory of Equateur Province. Eight passengers were rescued thanks to the efforts of nearby residents.
The capsizing is believed to be related to overloading and navigation during nighttime hours. Search operations are still ongoing.
River accidents are unfortunately common in the DRC, often due to non-compliance with safety regulations and the poor condition of vessels.
