Congo In Mourning As Boat Carrying Nearly 300 Passengers Capsizes, 7 Confirmed Dead

• Tragedy has struck in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a boat carrying nearly 300 passengers capsized
• Eyewitnesses claim that the ill-fated vessel went down after its wooden structure split in two, letting water in
• So far, seven of the passengers have been confirmed dead even as authorities continue with rescue efforts
• The tragedy comes just one week after another boat sunk in Uganda and killed over 25, with some still missing to date

Several families in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been thrown into mourning after a boat carrying nearly 300 passengers capsized.

According to BBC News Africa, the official death toll stands at seven but the figure is expected to rise.

Boat split into two

Details indicate that the heartbreaking incident happened in the Mai-Ndombe province, in the western part of the country.

Eyewitnesses claim that the boat's wooden structure split in two, causing it to sink into the depths of the river as water got in.

Acting Oshwe territory police chief Martin Nakweti told the media that most of the passengers aboard the ill-fated vessel were public servants traveling to a neighbouring town for a routine check-up.

As of the time of filing this report, police officers and divers were still searching the Lukenie River for survivors.

Boat tragedies common in Congo

Africa News reports that authorities are still awaiting more information to help them launch investigations into the accident.

More details to follow as and when they are received.

Congo is a country endowed with valuable natural resources, however, it has been plagued with poor infrastructure due to recurring wars.

The news comes just one week since another boat transporting 34 passengers and cargo in Uganda sunk and killed over 25.

Uganda boat tragedy victims still missing

Fishermen from neighbouring shores stated that the ill-fated boat was coming from Lwanabatya Landing Site in Kalangala District when tragedy struck.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SSP Patrick Onyango told the media that overloading and bad weather conditions caused the accident.

Eight days since the incident occurred, bodies of some of the missing passengers were yet to be retrieved.