More than 80 people dead in DR Congo after boat capsizes

President Felix Tshisekedi calls for investigation after boat accident on Kwa River in Mai-Ndombe province.

More than 80 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have died after the boat they were travelling on sank, President Felix Tshisekedi has announced.

The accident on Wednesday occurred on the Kwa River, about 70km (43 miles) from the city of Mushie in Mai-Ndombe province.

“The President of the Republic is calling for an investigation into the true causes of this unfortunate incident, to prevent such a disaster from happening again in the future,” the presidency said in a post on X.

Deadly boat accidents are common in the DRC, where vessels are frequently loaded well beyond their capacity.