20100730
africanews

At least 140 passengers died in a boat accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo after an overloaded vessel capsized on a river in the west of the country. The boat carrying about 250 passengers mostly businessmen, farmers and students to Congo's capital overturned on the Kasai River near Maluku district.

Local officials said on Thursday that the death toll increased from 130. Xavier Nsingi, navy commander of the National Transport Office said the death toll could be more than 200 deaths as a result of the accident.

DR Congo government said that the disaster may have been caused by low water levels on the river due to the dry season.

The River is widely used throughout the DR Congo. Accidents are common because boats are overfull.

Dozens of people died in May after an overloaded canoe capsized on a river in eastern Congo.

Last November, at least 90 people were killed after a logging boat sank on a lake in Congo.