A ferry carrying people returning home for Christmas capsizes in Congo: at least 38 people are killed
Kyiv • UNN
38 people were killed and more than 100 went missing after a ferry capsized on the Busira River in Congo. The vessel was overloaded with passengers returning home for Christmas, and only 20 people were rescued.
38 people are killed and more than 100 are missing after a ferry capsized on the Busira River in northeastern Congo. The vessel was overloaded with people returning home for Christmas. The Guardian writes about it, UNN reports .
Details
Reportedly, 20 people have been rescued so far.
The ferry was traveling as part of a convoy of other ships and the passengers were mostly merchants returning home for Christmas, Mayor Ingende said.
According to a local resident, there were “more than 400 people on the ferry, because it made two stops on the way to Boende - in Inhende and Loolo, so there is reason to believe that there were more dead.
Congolese authorities often warn against overloading boats and promise to punish violators of river safety measures. However, in remote areas, many people cannot afford public transportation.
The ferry sank less than four days after another vessel sank in the northeast of the country, killing 25 people.
At least 78 people drowned in October when an overloaded boat sank in the east of the country, and in June 80 people died in a similar accident near Kinshasa.
