A boat carrying nearly 500 people caught fire and capsized in northwestern Congo, leaving 107 dead and 146 missing in the region’s second fatal accident in a week, authorities said Friday.
The latest accident took place Thursday along the Congo River in the Equateur Province’s Lukolela territory, the Congolese humanitarian affairs ministry said in a report.
It came a day after 86 people were killed and several others left missing Wednesday in a separate boat accident in the province's Basankusu territory, bringing the total deaths to nearly 200.
Students are among the dead in a boat capsize in Congo that claimed dozens of lives. (AP Graphic)
It was not immediately clear what caused either accident.
