Mbandaka: Forty civilians drowned when their boats capsized on a storm-swollen river as they fled fighting in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, a senior local official said on Friday.
“As of Wednesday night, we recovered the bodies of 40 people” after their boats capsized, Jean Bakatoye, vice governor of South Ubangi province, told AFP. The civilians were trying to cross Ubangi River, which marks the border with Republic of Congo.