The bodies of at least 52 people have been recovered from the Congo River after their boat capsized late last week, a provincial minister said on Monday, warning that the death toll could rise further with many still missing. The boat was carrying over 300 people when it overturned near the town of Mbandaka in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo during the night on Friday. Didier Mbula, provincial health minister for Equateur Province, told Reuters the number of dead had since risen. ADVERTISEMENT AdvertisementDeadly boat accidents are frequent on Congo’s rivers and lakes, where vessels are frequently loaded well beyond their capacity. In a statement, he promised to implement rules to improve the safety of river transport and “minimize the recurring tragedies.”For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

Source: CNN October 17, 2023 13:08 UTC