40 civilians drown fleeing violence in northwest DR Congo

The civilians were trying to cross the Ubangi River, which marks the border with the neighbouring Republic of Congo.

world Updated: Apr 27, 2018 17:37 IST

Detained Mai-Mai Yakutumba rebels, captured by Congolese soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) sit on the ground in Namoya, Maniema Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, April 26, 2018. (REUTERS)

Forty civilians drowned when their boats capsized on a storm-swollen river as they fled fighting in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a senior local official said 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 the Ubangi River, which marks the border with the neighbouring Republic of Congo.