Kinshasa: At least 19 people died when heavy winds caused a boat to capsize on Democratic Republic of Congo's Lake Mai-Ndombe, local officials in the Congo said Monday. The Governor of Mai-Ndombe province reported that the boat had embarked from the village of Kiri heading towards the capital, Kinshasa, when the incident occurred on Thursday night.
According to Kuwait News Agency, river boats are a primary mode of transport in many rural areas of Congo. However, these vessels are often outdated, leading to frequent accidents. Provincial governor Nkoso Kevani Lebon stated, "Yesterday we recovered nine bodies, and today ten more were pulled from the water, bringing the total to 19 dead and 82 survivors." He further mentioned that the exact number of missing persons remains unknown.