The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Kinshasa

At least 42 passengers drowned and more than 100 are missing after their boat sank on the river Oubangui in the Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials and a radio report said Friday.

Rescue workers had saved 22 passengers, but recovered 42 bodies from the river, which runs along DRCongo's northern border with the Central African Republic, Felix Ibula, of the authorities in nearby Gbadolite, told AFP.

The barge was carrying 182 passengers from both countries when it sank, according to a report from the UN-sponsored Radio Okapi, citing investigators from both countries who had gone to the scene.

"The barge hit a rock before sinking," said Ibula.

"We don't know at this time if some passengers, in addition to the 22 survivors, were able to save themselves," added Ibula.That still left at least 115 people missing.