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Official: Boat capsizes in Congo; 19 believed dead

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — An official in northeast Congo says 19 people are believed dead after a boat capsized on Lake Albert.

Mahagi territory administrator Christophe Ikando said Monday that six people were rescued after the boat capsized overnight Friday on the lake that straddles the border between Congo and Uganda. He said 11 of the dead are members of the same family.

Congo is a vast country of jungles and huge rivers in Central Africa with few paved roads. Many people prefer to take boats even if they do not know how to swim.

The boats are often in poor repair and filled beyond capacity, and the industry is not well-regulated.

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