DR Congo ferry disaster kills at least 20 off the shore of Goma

Reuters cited a local migration authority saying around 45 males and 35 females were registered as passengers, but their ages have not been verified.

A local activist, Aaron Ashuza, who is at the shore, told the BBC he saw bodies being pulled out of the river and said the injured had been taken to hospital.

At least two children died after they were taken to hospital after the accident, according to AFP.

Such accidents are common in DR Congo, where boats are frequently overcrowded with passengers who are rarely given safety jackets and often cannot swim.

Rescue operations are made difficult as some ships rarely have passenger manifests.