Boat sinks on Congo lake leaving at least 30 dead, 200 missing

Authorities in western Congo say at least 30 people are dead and another 200 are missing after a boat sank on a lake. (GFDL-CC/Claeys Boùùaert)

At least 30 people are dead and another 200 are missing after a boat sank on a lake in western Congo, according to reports.

More than 80 people survived.

Many of those aboard the boat that sank on Lake Mai-Ndombe were teachers, Simon Mboo Wemba, the mayor of Inongo, reported.

The mayor said they had traveled to collect their salaries by boat because roads in the region are so poor.

It was not immediately known how many people were aboard the boat when it hit bad weather late Saturday.

But officials estimate several hundred were on board.

Boats in the vast nation of Congo are usually overloaded with passengers and cargo, and official manifests don’t include all those aboard.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.