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A boat capsized in southwestern Congo, killing at least 25 people, many of them soccer players, authorities said Monday.
The victims were returning from a match in Mushie city, Maï-Ndombe province, when their vessel overturned on the Kwa River on Sunday night, said provincial spokesman Alexis Mputu.
Authorities believe poor nighttime visibility may have contributed to the tragedy.
At least 30 people survived, according to Renacle Kwatiba, the local administrator of Mushie territory.
Deadly boat accidents are common in Congo, where overcrowded vessels and late-night travel often lead to disasters. The country’s authorities struggle to enforce maritime safety regulations.
With poor infrastructure in many remote areas, Congo’s vast network of rivers remains a primary mode of transport for its 100 million residents. However, a lack of oversight has led to hundreds of deaths in recent years as people rely on overloaded wooden boats to travel and transport goods.
