DR Congo minister, 19 others survive as their plane caught fire after veering off runway

KIGALI, Rwanda

Congolese Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba and other members of his delegation survived an accident when the plane they were flying in caught fire after veering off the runway on Monday morning in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, an official said.

"The aircraft was flying from the capital, Kinshasa, when it ran off the runway during landing at Kolwezi airport in Lualaba province," Isaac Nyembo, the minister's communications advisor, told the media at the airport after the incident.

"Moments later, the aircraft caught fire," he added.

Nyembo said about 20 passengers were evacuated from the plane before it caught fire, but luggage was damaged.

The minister and other officials were on their way to Kolwezi to assess the situation at the Kalondo mine, where 32 people were killed in a mining accident on Saturday.