At least 148 people died after a boat accident on the Congo River earlier this week, officials confirmed.
The accident happened on Tuesday night near Mbandaka, in Equateur province. Senator Jean-Paul Boketsu Bofili said the boat was carrying around 500 people when it caught fire and capsized.
Children were among the dead. Over 150 people survived, though many suffered burn injuries. Rescuers found several badly burned bodies in the wreckage.
Reports suggest a woman may have started the fire while cooking food on board.
The boat, called HB Kokolo, travelled between the port of Bolenge and Ngbondo village. The village hosts a major market serving nearby areas. Many people rely on river travel in Congo due to poor road conditions.
Earlier estimates put the death toll at 50, but that number has now risen. Many passengers are still missing.
This accident follows another tragedy on the same river just days earlier. In that case, over 50 people died when an overloaded boat sank.
