Up to 138 killed in Congo river boat accident

As many as 138 people died when an overloaded boat carrying passengers and goods capsized in rough water in the Democratic Republic of Congo, police said.

Congo's government confirmed the incident, but gave a lower toll and said it may have been caused by low water levels on the Congo river due to the dry season. The accident took place on a stretch of the river in the western Bandundu province, east of Kinshasa, the country's capital.

"The boat was badly overloaded and it didn't make the rough waters," said Jolly Limengo, the provincial inspector of police. "Our provisional toll is 138 dead."