At least 60 killed in DR Congo boat accident

YAOUNDE, Cameroon

At least 60 people died after a boat sank in Lake Mai-Ndombe in the western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), authorities said on Monday.

The accident happened late Sunday night near the village of Longola Ekoti in the Mai-Ndombe province.

In a tweet on Monday, Congolese Minister of Humanitarian Action Steve Mbikayi said the boat had been overloaded with over 700 passengers.

He said they have found 300 survivors so far, but hundreds remain missing.

"We sympathize with the bereaved families and demand sanctions against all those responsible," Mbikayi said.

The boat was coming from the capital Kinshasa and was heading for Mbandaka in the Equateur province when it capsized near Longola Ekoti.

Boat accidents often result in heavy casualties, and most accidents that happen in remote places in the Democratic Republic of Congo are not even reported.

Most of the accidents occur mainly due to overloading, non-compliance with navigation standards, and poor condition of vessels.