At least 20 drown as boat carrying students after exams sinks in DR Congo

Witnesses accidental the vessel whitethorn person been carrying much than 200 passengers.

A woody vessel carrying students returning from authorities exams has sunk successful cardinal Democratic Republic of the Congo, sidesplitting astatine slightest 20 people, authorities said.

The vas sank arsenic it entered the confluence of the Sankuru and Kasai rivers successful Kasai state connected Friday, according to witnesses.

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Deadly vessel disasters are communal successful the cardinal African country, wherever night-time question and overcrowded vessels are often blamed. Poor information standards and a deficiency of infrastructure successful distant areas person contributed to hundreds of deaths successful caller years.

“There were 80 survivors and 20 bodies,” said Francois Kabula, head of Ilebo territory successful Kasai province.

However, Tshikudi Jean, who witnessed the sinking, told the AP quality bureau that the vessel was carrying much than 200 people.

“The shipowners successful the DRC are lone aft wealth and don’t attraction astir quality lives,” said Francois Malepo, president of the Ilebo civilian nine organisation.