DR Congo boat sinks, 145 feared dead

The boat had been travelling to neighbouring Republic of Congo when it capsized at the Lulonga River near the town of Basankusu.

Jean-Pierre Wangela, the president of civil society groups in the area, told journalists that at least 145 people were missing. 

He blamed overloading for the boat's demise but said that locals have few other options.

"There's no other means of transport currently in our province and here in the territory of Basankusu," he said.

Boat sinkings causing dozens of fatalities are all too common in remote parts of DR Congo, where travel by road is at times impossible. 

Many watercraft are overloaded with goods and people who do not know how to swim. 

Rescue operations are extremely limited in remote parts of the country.

In October, more than 40 people died on the Congo River in Equateur province under similar circumstances.