A river boat sank in western Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 22 people after the overcrowded upper deck collapsed.
Boating accidents are common in DR Congo, where old, wooden vessels are the main form of transport between villages and are often loaded far beyond capacity.
The boat was carrying as many as 100 passengers when it sank in western Mai-Ndombe province. The victims included 15 women, five men and two children.
The provincial governor Lebon Nkoso Kevani told newsmen that until they have safer, metallic boats we will continue to have shipwrecks.
He added that a team of provincial officials had been deployed to the area to investigate and that many passengers were believed to have escaped to shore after the disaster.
In October, at least 78 people drowned when a boat carrying 278 passengers capsized in Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
