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Lake Mai-Ndombe accident: 30 dead, 200 missing in DR Congo Lake Mai-Ndombe accident: 45 dead, 200 missing in DR Congo
(about 5 hours later)
At least 30 people are feared dead after a boat sank on Lake Mai-Ndombe in western Democratic Republic of Congo, local reports say. At least 45 people have died after a boat sank on Lake Mai-Ndombe in western Democratic Republic of Congo.
The vessel is reported to have been carrying more than 400 people, of which 170 have been saved while more than 200 are still missing. The provincial governor, Antoine Masamba, said the vessel was carrying more than 400 people, with reports that about 200 passengers are still missing.
Last month, at least 167 people died in two boat accidents on Lake Kivu. The majority of those on board were teachers going to collect their salaries, a local mayor told the BBC.
The reason for this accident is unclear but it is believed to have been overloaded with passengers. He said 11 children were among those who died when the old and overcrowded boat went down in strong waves.
The vessel, bound for Boliangwa, sank on Saturday evening almost 30km (18 miles) from the town of Inongo, its point of departure and capital of Mai-Ndombe Province.
The mayor of Inongo, Simon Mboo Wemba, said police had arrested the captain of the boat and the investigation was ongoing.
Officials warn the search and recovery operations on the lake could take between two and three weeks.
The BBC's Gaius Kowene in the capital, Kinshasa, says boat accidents are frequent in DR Congo because of overloading and poor maintenance
DR Congo, which is about the size of mainland western Europe, has a poor road network and many areas are inaccessible unless by air or boat - and the country's only super-highway is the Congo River.DR Congo, which is about the size of mainland western Europe, has a poor road network and many areas are inaccessible unless by air or boat - and the country's only super-highway is the Congo River.
Recent boat accidents have prompted Félix Tshisekedi, who became president in January, to make it mandatory for passengers to wear life jackets. Last month, at least 167 people died in two boat accidents on Lake Kivu.
But it is not clear if those on the boat that sank on Saturday evening as it was travelling from Inongo - the provincial capital of Mai-Ndombe Province - to Boliangwa were wearing any. This prompted Félix Tshisekedi, who became president in January, to make it mandatory for passengers to wear life jackets.
But it is not clear if those on the boat that sank on Saturday were wearing any.