Nairobi/Kinshasa - At least 71 people died when a logging boat with no authorization to carry passengers sank in a lake in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reports said Saturday. Dominic Lutula, president of the Congolese Red Cross, told the United Nations-backed Radio Okapi that over 270 people had survived the accident, which took place Wednesday during bad weather on Lake Mai Ndombe, western DR Congo.
Dozens are believed to still be missing, although the lack of a manifest is complicating efforts to determine exactly how many were on the ship.
Dozens die in boat accidents on DR Congo's rivers and lakes each year due to overloading and the poor condition of the boats.
Boats are a common way to travel in the sprawling country, which lacks a proper road network.
