A passenger boat on Tuesday capsized in western Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 40 people, just a week after at least 47 others died in a similar incident.
The wooden riverboat, known as a whaler, was carrying passengers and cargo when it capsized on Saturday night on the Lulonga river.
The incident occurred near the village of Boyeka in the Equateur province.
The passengers, mostly traders, were returning to Mbandaka, the province’s capital, from a local market crossing.
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As more passengers go missing, the death toll may rise. According to local media, more than 200 people survived.
The incident occurred just ten days after another boat capsized in the same province, killing dozens. Unknown numbers of people remain unaccounted for.
Due to a lack of roads, boats are a common mode of transportation in DR Congo.
Boat accidents, on the other hand, are common due to overloading, poor maintenance, and overnight travel.
In addition, many passengers do not wear life jackets.
