52 bodies have been recovered after a boating accident in the democratic republic of Congo (DRC) last week.
According to officials, the victims were recovered from the Congo River and warned that the death toll could increase with more still missing.
The boat was carrying approximately 300 people when it capsized near the town of Mbandaka in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo late Friday night. Over the weekend, 30 people drowned, and 167 people went missing.
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According to Didier Mbula, provincial health minister for Equateur Province, the death toll has since climbed.
Didier Mbula said that they have recorded 52 bodies that were pulled out. The search teams are still in the field, working. He added that the number was provisional and it may increase further.
On Congo's rivers and lakes, deadly boat accidents are common, as vessels are frequently laden far over their capacity. The country's vast, forested territory has few asphalt roads, and river travel is prevalent.
Transport Minister Marc Ekila stated on Monday that the capsized boat should not have been traveling at night. It was overcrowded and did not correctly identify its owners or the number of persons on board.
He committed to enacting laws to improve river transit safety and "minimize recurring tragedies."
