According to local authorities and survivors, the catastrophe occurred late Monday into Tuesday near the town of Bumba in the northwestern province of Mongala, where nine hollowed-out canoes were attached to one other and overturned after being filled past safe capacity.

According to Mongala's provincial minister of transport and communications, José Misiso, at least 61 dead have been discovered. He added that more than 100 people are still missing, including children and women, but this is only an estimate because there are no manifestos for such boats.

"At least 30 people have been saved," he added.

Shipwrecks are standard on the Congo River and in the country's lakes, owing to overloaded homemade boats. Because of a lack of decent roads and because it is a less expensive mode of transportation, the majority of the people in the northwest uses the rivers. The industry, on the other hand, is poorly controlled.

Because of temporary vessels that typically carry big loads, boats and ships regularly capsize on the Congo River and lakes.

Because of the lack of suitable roads and the low cost of this mode of transportation, most people use the rivers of northeastern Congo.