Two separate boat accidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo this week have killed at least 193 people, authorities said Friday.
The accidents occurred on Wednesday and Thursday at locations in the northwestern Equateur province, around 150 kilometers (93 miles) from each other.
One boat carrying nearly 500 passengers capsized after catching fire while traveling on the Congo River near Malange village, Lukolela territory, on Thursday evening, the Ministry of Social Affairs said.
In a report, the ministry said 209 survivors had been rescued, while 146 people were missing.
The boat drifted downstream as it burned, the report said, adding that the fire had destroyed the vessel's cargo and ignited 15 homes on the riverbank.
Naval personnel and volunteers from the local community were assisting in search and rescue operations, which were still ongoing on Friday.
On Wednesday, at least 86 people, most of them students, died after a motorized boat capsized at the confluence of the Nsolo and Great Maringa rivers in Basankusu territory, according to state media.
Several people were still missing, although it was unclear how many. State media said eight survivors were rescued from the water by local residents.
The accident was caused by "improper loading and night navigation," according to the report, which is "formally prohibited," civil society activist Akula Mboyo said.
Such accidents are frequent in Congo, where river transport is an important mode of travel, particularly as public infrastructure is limited in the country's sprawling rainforest regions.
Old, poorly maintained and often overloaded vessels are the main form of transport between the region's villages.
Limited resources, remote locations and the fact that many journeys are held at night, despite rules to the contrary, also hinder rescue efforts.
Last year, a vessel carrying hundreds of passengers sank in Lake Kivu, killing at least 78 people.
