Audio By Carbonatix
Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say more than 60 people have drowned after a barge capsized and sank on the Congo River.
Three-hundred people have been rescued but possibly 200 others are unaccounted for following the accident.
Locals said the boat hit a rock east of the capital, Kinshasa while travelling at night, which is forbidden.
The Congolese minister for humanitarian affairs, Steve Mbikayi, called for those responsible for the boat to be charged.
"An overloaded whaler, sailing at night with more than 700 passengers was wrecked in Mai-Ndombe! 60 bodies already found with 300 survivors! We sympathize with the bereaved families and demand the sanctions against all those responsible for the transport sector," he wrote on Twitter.
There are few roads in the country and much of the freight and passenger traffic is on the river.
Latest Stories
-
DVLA extends use of DP stickers and DV plates amid new plate rollout delay
6 minutes -
What’s in a nickname? AFCON 2025 teams have stories to tell
17 minutes -
DVLA suspends rollout of new number plates planned for January 2026
29 minutes -
Health Minister commends workers, pledges stronger health system in end-of-year message
39 minutes -
Two dead, dozens injured in crash on Cape Coast–Takoradi highway
41 minutes -
NPP Primary: Bawumia still in strong lead in latest Global InfoAnalytics survey
56 minutes -
NPP Primary: Bawumia leads with 56% amongst committed voters in latest Global InfoAnalytics poll
1 hour -
Venezuela accuses US of ‘extortion’ over seizure of oil tankers
1 hour -
Zelensky says Ukrainian withdrawal from the East possible in latest peace plan
1 hour -
NDC highlights first year achievements, vows to stabilise economy and strengthen governance
1 hour -
Ghana’s performance broadly satisfactory; but faces downside risks to economy – IMF
2 hours -
Cybercrime crackdown: 48 suspects arrested in Dawhenya operation
2 hours -
Any further easing of policy rate should remain gradual and data dependent – IMF to BoG
2 hours -
ICU-Ghana boss urges gov’t to translate economic gains into better living standards for workers
2 hours -
BoG rolls out new directives on documentations needed for cross border trading
2 hours
