国际英语新闻：Boat accident kills at least 130 people in DR Congo

KINSHASA, July 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 130 people were killed in a boat accident in Bandundu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), a local official told Xinhua on Thursday.

The wreckage occurred on Wednesday night on a river at the section of Chenal of the Kwamouth region in Bandundu province, the official confirmed.

There were more than 250 passengers on board the boat, mostly businessmen, farmers and students for vacation, the source said.

According to Xavier Nsingi, navy commander of the National Transport Office, there could be more than 200 deaths from the mishap apparently caused by overloading.

A rescue team has been sent to the scene to search for survivors of the accident, Nsingi said.

In May, more than 100 people died in a similar accident on the River Congo at the section of Kindu in Maniema Province.

Statistics from the Congolese Ministry of Transports and Communication show that more than 2,000 people lost their lives in accidents on the River Congo, other rivers and lakes in 2009 in the Central African country.