Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Hundreds Feared Dead as Congo Boats Capsize VOA News 06 September 2010 Hundreds of people are feared dead after two boats capsized in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In one incident, a motor boat sank Sunday after hitting an object in the Ruki river in northwestern Congo. A spokeswoman for the Equateur province government says 15 people were killed and 60 others are missing. She says the boat was traveling at night without lights. In the other incident, a cargo vessel caught fire and turned over on the Kasai River in southern Congo on Saturday. Survivors say the boat was carrying at least 200 people and that only a small number managed to swim to shore. Congo's information minister, Lambert Mende, told VOA that officials have not determined a death toll. He said there were at least 24 survivors. Mende said the fire began when some small containers of fuel on board were ignited. He said the cargo boat should not have been carrying passengers, and that the operator faces criminal prosecution. Fatal boat accidents are common in Congo, where a lack of roads forces people to travel on riverboats that are often crowded and poorly maintained. In May, up to 80 people died when a boat capsized on the Maniema River in eastern Congo. In July, about 140 people died when a boat overturned on the Congo River in Bandundu province.  Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP. .