Hundreds believed dead in Congo boat accidents

NAIROBI/KINSHASA - Hundreds of people are feared dead after two weekend boat accidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reports said Sunday.

The United Nations-backed Radio Okapi reported that a boat capsized on the Ruki River early Saturday in Equateur province.

Fifteen people were confirmed dead and at least 60 were missing, government spokesperson Rebecca Ebala told the radio station.

Other reports said a riverboat carrying around 200 people capsized after catching fire on the Kasai River Saturday night in Occidental province. Most of the passengers were believed dead.

The accidents were the latest such incidents in the sprawling Central African nation, where the lack of roads forces many to cram onto the ferries that ply the Congo River and its tributaries. Many of the boats are poorly maintained and often overcrowded, leading to frequent deadly mishaps.

An accident in July on the Kasai River left more than 100 dead.