At least 143 people They lost their lives and dozens of others are missing after fire manifested in succulent in riverin the northwestern part of Congoofficials reported Friday.

“A first group of 131 corpses were recovered on Wednesday, 12 were recovered on Thursday and Friday,” Josephine-Pasifik Lokoumou, a member of the National Parliament on the spot, told the French Agency.

Member of the Local Union, Joseph Lokondo, said that the “still preliminary report” of the disaster is “145 dead”, some of whom were “charred” and others died “from drowning”.

The fire on the wooden motor boat, carrying hundreds of passengers and a cargo, especially fuel, occurred on Tuesday, near Bandaka, capital of the Ecuadorian province, Ms Lokoumou said.

The reason was that “a woman set fire to cook” on the ship, resulting in “a short distance exploding, killing many children and women,” the Virus explained.

The total number of passengers on the boat is not clear, but it is estimated that they were “hundreds”, he added.

Earlier yesterday, the Sky News television network, citing officials, reported that the sailboat was on fire and overturned “500 people” somewhere. His sources spoke of “at least 148” dead and “hundreds” others.

Yesterday “many families have not yet had news of their own,” according to Mr Lokondo, who attended victims’ funerals. Many of the survivors have been hospitalized and hospitalized, he said.

In Congo Congo, Central Africa’s huge country, the roads are scarce compared to the needs and in many cases travel is made by ships through the Congo River and its river.

They are often the wrecks in lakes and rivers of the country, sometimes with heavy reports of victims. Chronic lack of passenger lists complicates search and rescue operations.