At least seven people have died after a boat carrying nearly 300 people sank in the Mai-Ndombe province, in the western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

Authorities are still searching for survivors, amid fears of the toll rising.

According to eyewitnesses, the boat's wooden structure split in two, causing the vessel to sink.

Many of the passengers were public servants travelling to a neighbouring town for a routine check-up.

DR Congo lacks appropriate infrastructure and control mechanisms to guarantee the safety of people travelling via its waterways.

Experts often attribute such incidents to boats overloading and poor maintenance.

In 2019, at least 30 bodies were recovered after a boat carrying 400 people capsized in the same province.