At least 25 died when a boat overturned in the Kwa River in southwestern Congo on Monday. Several of the dead were soccer players who had just come back from a game last night in Mushie city, Maï-Ndombe province, authorities confirmed.
Poor visibility during the night could have caused the accident, according to provincial spokesperson Alexis Mputu. Least 30 individuals survived the disaster, according to Renacle Kwatiba, the local Mushie territory administrator.
Frequent boat accidents occur in Congo, where journeys at night and overloading are routine even after frequent warnings. The vast network of rivers in the country is the main means of transport for more than 100 million citizens, especially where there is weak infrastructure in rural regions.
Officials have had problems implementing maritime security regulations, and over the last few years hundreds of individuals perished in a similar fashion because tourists more often depend on dilapidated crowded wooden vessels over meager land roads.
