At least 50 people have died in a boat accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo, AP reports, quoted by FOCUS.
A boat caught fire in the northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and then capsized, leaving at least 50 dead and hundreds missing, a local official said.
Dozens were rescued after the river tragedy that took place late Tuesday night, many of them with severe burns.
''The motorized wooden boat with about 400 passengers caught fire near the city of Mbandaka'', said river commissioner Loyoko.
The survivors were taken to a makeshift shelter at Mbandaka town hall. Those with burns were taken to local hospitals, the commissioner added.
The fire reportedly broke out while cooking was taking place on board, Loyoko said.
Authorities have struggled for years to enforce maritime regulations to curb such tragedies, but so far without success.
The DRC's rivers are a major means of transport for its more than 100 million inhabitants, especially in remote areas where infrastructure is poor or non-existent.
Such incidents are not uncommon in the African country, where old wooden vessels are the main form of transport between villages and are often loaded far beyond their capacity.