This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 6, 2019, a devastating boat accident occurred on the Lukenye river in central Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming the lives of 11 people and leaving dozens missing.
According to authorities, 16 people survived the accident by swimming to safety, while about 50 people remain unaccounted for.
The overcrowded barge was traveling to the DR Congo capital of Kinshasa when it sank in a remote and densely forested region of Kasai province.
"We have recovered 11 bodies and about 50 people are missing," Kasai governor Dieudonne Pieme told AFP.
Boat accidents are common in the DR Congo, often caused by overloading of passengers and cargo, and frequently resulting in high tolls due to the lack of life jackets and swimming skills among the population.
Just a few months prior, in April 2019, at least 167 people died in two separate boat accidents, prompting President Felix Tshisekedi to make it mandatory for boat passengers to have lifebuoys.
