AP News reported on the 10th (local time) that 25 people died in a boat capsizing accident on a river in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) in Africa.
On the 21st of last month (local time), fishermen in the Democratic Republic of Congo are heading to the pier to escape conflict. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
According to local rescue authorities, a boat capsized late the previous night on the Kwa River in Mai-Ndombe Province in the west, and so far 25 bodies have been recovered and at least 30 people rescued.
Rescue authorities added that many of the deceased were soccer players returning from a match in Mushishi, Mai-Ndombe Province.
A rescue official said, "Poor visibility at night may have been the cause."
In DR Congo, boat accidents frequently occur on rivers and lakes due to aging vessels, lack of safety equipment, and overloading.
On December 20 last year, a boat capsized on the Bushira River northeast of the capital Kinshasa, killing 38 people and leaving over 100 missing.
On the 17th of the same month, another boat capsizing accident on the Pimi River in Mai-Ndombe Province resulted in 25 deaths. In total, hundreds of people died or went missing in boat accidents in DR Congo last year.
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