Boat sinks in DR Congo, leaving dozens dead and missing

At least 39 people have died, and another 36 remain missing after a vessel sank on Lake Tanganyika in the territorial waters of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, TASS reports, citing local authorities.

The vessel was travelling from Kigoma in Tanzania to Kalemie in the DRC when it sank off the coast of Kabimba in Tanganyika Province. The sinking was confirmed by Norris Mulongoy, head of the province’s transport department.

The search-and-rescue operation is ongoing. Preliminary reports indicate that the disaster may have been caused by the vessel being overloaded.

By Jeyhun Aghazada