In a similar accident a week ago, 47 people drowned after a passenger boat capsized on a river in western Democratic Republic of Congo.

On Saturday night, a wooden riverboat carrying passengers and goods capsized on the Lulonga river.

In Equateur province, the incident occurred near Boyeka village.

They were returning from a local market crossing to Mbandaka, the provincial capital.

As more passengers go missing, the death toll could rise. Local media reported that more than 200 others survived.

A boat capsized in the same province ten days earlier, killing dozens and leaving an unknown number of people missing.

As a result of the lack of roads in DR Congo, boats are a common mode of transportation.

Overloading, lack of maintenance, and nighttime travel contribute to boat accidents.

Life jackets are also not worn by many passengers.