BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo – More than 80 people have been killed in a boat accident on the River Kwa in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Mai-Ndombe province, President Felix Tshisekedi said on Wednesday.

Deadly boat accidents are common in waters of Congo, where vessels are frequently loaded well beyond their capacity.

“The President of the Republic is calling for an investigation into the true causes of this unfortunate incident, to prevent such a disaster from happening again in the future,” the presidency said on X.

In January, 145 passengers died after a motorised boat overloaded with goods and animals sank at night on a river in northwestern Congo.

The boat had been traveling to neighboring Republic of Congo when it capsized in the Lulonga River near the town of Basankusu. – Reuters