Kinshasa, June 16 -- At least 48 people have died after boats capsized on Lake Tumba in the northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the DRC government said on Sunday.
Following the incident near Bikoro in Equateur Province on Wednesday, 46 passengers have been rescued, while 107 remain unaccounted for. Authorities have recovered and buried 48 bodies so far, said a statement issued by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Security Jacquemain Shabani.
The victims were aboard three motorized canoes that capsized due to severe weather conditions on the lake, the statement said.
Reports suggest the death toll could exceed 60. The canoes were likely overloaded, as most of the passengers onboard were transporting th...