As a result people often travel on lakes, the Congo River -- the second longest in Africa after the Nile -- and its winding tributaries, where shipwrecks are frequent and the death tolls often heavy.

A local official says a boat has capsized after catching fire in northwestern Congo, leaving at least 50 people dead and hundreds missing.

At least 148 people were found dead in Democratic Republic of Congo after a motorised wooden boat caught fire and capsized, media reports citing local officials said on Friday.

As a result people often travel on lakes, the Congo River – the second longest in Africa after the Nile – and its winding tributaries, where shipwrecks are frequent and the death tolls often ...