At least 30 people have been killed and dozens remain missing after two boats collided on the Congo River in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo, local authorities said, as search and rescue operations continued.

The collision occurred near Ngombe-Lukolela in Equateur province when two motorized boats travelling in opposite directions struck each other during a nighttime voyage, according to provincial authorities.

Provincial Interior Minister Chrispin Mputu said one vessel was travelling from Businga in Sud-Ubangi province toward Kinshasa, while the other had departed from the capital and was heading toward Lukolela. Following the collision, one of the boats capsized and sank in the river.

Authorities said at least 30 bodies have been recovered and buried, while dozens of passengers are still unaccounted for. Rescue teams, assisted by local residents, continue searching the river for additional survivors and victims. The exact number of people on board remains unclear.

Officials said the cause of the collision has not yet been determined. However, provincial authorities noted that nighttime navigation and the absence of proper navigation lights are among the factors being examined as part of the investigation.

River transport is a primary means of travel across large parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where limited road infrastructure forces millions of people to rely on boats. Fatal accidents are common due to overcrowding, poor safety standards and nighttime navigation.(ILKHA)