Tragedy in the Congo River, at least 50 dead

A tragic event has taken place in northwest Congo, where a passenger - laden boat is on fire and is overthrown in the Congo River, causing at least 50 deaths and the disappearance of hundreds of others.

The event took place near the town of Mbandaka, when a large motored wooden boat carrying about 400 people was swept into flames and then overturned. According to a local official, dozens of survivors have survived the water, yet many have suffered severe burns.

Barca was headed from the port of Matankumu, and had a destination for the territory of Bolomba. The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, while provincial authorities and Red Cross teams are working intensively to find survivors and identify victims.

The event has shocked the local community and brought dangerous conditions of travel to the waterways of Congo, where overloading and lack of security measures are common problems.

Authorities have promised deepening investigations and measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future./Pericopi/