Ferry Capsizing Kills at Least 129 in Congo
At least 129 people are dead in the Democratic Republic of Congo after an overcrowded vessel sank on Lake Tanganyika in the early hours of Friday morning.
According to Laurent Kahozi Sumba, the transport minister for Katanga province, 129 bodies have been recovered and there are 232 known survivors – though the true death toll is unknown, AP reported.
Kahozi said an investigation into the cause of the sinking is underway. Officials told BBC that strong winds and overloading caused the boat, the MV Mutambala, to capsize.
MV Mutambala, was a ferry boat that connected towns in Katanga and South Kivu provinces.
Boats in Congo are often overloaded with passengers, frequently without sufficient lifesaving equipment.
Source: AP, BBC, staff
