Kinshasa: 38 people were killed and more than 100 are missing after a boat carrying people returning home for Christmas capsized in the Busira River in Congo's capital Kinshasa late Friday night. Local officials and eyewitnesses gave this information. This incident of boat capsizing has happened at a time when about four days ago, 25 people were killed when another boat capsized in the north-east of the country. In the recent incident of boat capsizing, 20 people have been confirmed rescued so far.
Joseph Congolingoli, mayor of the town of Ingende, near the crash site, said the boat was in waters north-east of Congo and was carrying mostly businessmen returning home for Christmas. Ndolo Kadi, a resident of Ingende, said that there were more than 400 people on board the boat and that the boat had passed through Ingende and Lulo, two ports on the way to Boende, so it seems that the death toll would be higher.
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Congolese authorities frequently issue warnings against overcrowding on boats and punish those who violate water transport safety measures, but most travelers from remote areas can afford to travel by road. Can't. In October, at least 78 people were killed when an overloaded boat capsized in the eastern part of the country, and 80 people were killed in a similar accident near Kinshasa in June.
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