138 killed in Congo boat accident

At least 138 people have been killed in a boat accident in Bandundu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A local source on Thursday said the wreckage occurred last night on a river at the section of Chenal of the Kwamouth region in the province. The source said there were more than 250 passengers on board the boat, mostly businessmen, farmers and students for vacation, according to All India Radio.

A local source said that only two children survived the tragedy. The boat was carrying an unspecified number of passengers and goods from Mushie, about 30 kilometres from Bandundu, the province's chief town.

Neither the UN mission for the stabilisation of the DR Congo (MONUSCO) nor the international Red Cross had any further details of the shipwreck.

River transport is widely used throughout DR Congo, where the numerous waterways include the 4700 kilometre long Congo river, SBS reports.