Congo: 38 people were killed when a passenger ferry capsized on the Bucera River

Local officials and witnesses said that 38 people were confirmed dead while more than 100 people were still missing after an overloaded passenger ferry capsized in the Democratic Republic of the Congo late on Friday night. So far, 20 people have been confirmed rescued.
The ferry was sailing on the Burissa River in northeastern Congo as part of a convoy of other ships, and the passengers were mainly merchants returning home for Christmas, according to Joseph Kanolingoli, mayor of Engedi, the last town before the accident site.

Passenger ferry capsizes

Ndulu Kade, a resident of Engindi, said the ferry was carrying “more than 400 people because it was passing through two ports, Engindi and Lolo, on its way to Bwindi, so there is reason to believe that the number of deaths was higher.”
Congolese officials have often warned of overloading of ferries and vowed to punish those who violate safety measures for river and sea transport.
However, in the remote areas where most passengers come from, many cannot afford public transportation for the few available land routes.