Boat sinks in Congo killing 38

Kinshasa, 26 Apr – (ANA) - About 38 people died in the Democratic Republic of Congo when the boat they were travelling in capsized on Monday, the Red Cross said.

The boat, ferrying goods and people across Lake Kivu to the town of Bukavu,  tipped over and sank at around 4 a.m. (0200 GMT), according to provincial chief of police General Augustin Luzembo.

A rescue team from the Red Cross recovered 38 bodies and 12 survivors from the lake, and the death toll was expected to rise, Desire Yuma, the head of the South Kivu mission of the Red Cross, told Reuters.

"The maritime service told us there were 38 passengers listed on the manifest but the survivors say there were more than 100 people on board," he said.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission said the accident appeared to have taken place amid strong winds and poor weather, but was unable to provide a death toll. (ANA)

FA/ANA/26 April 2011--------