42 civilians fleeing violence drowned in DRC river

KINSHASA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 42 civilians drowned in the UBangi river on Monday as they fled violence between an armed group and security forces in South Ubangi province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to the authorities on Friday.

The Interior Ministry in Kinshasa said boats carrying villagers capsized in the river on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo-Brazzaville.

The vice-governor of the province of South Ubangi, Jean Bakatoye, said the 42 people died as they were crossing the river under heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms.

According to the same source, panic was observed in the city of Dongo after a group of assailants attacking an army position forced the population to flee to the Congo-Brazzaville.

In recent years, some armed groups have regularly attacked army positions in this part of the country. In 2009, a clash between the army and an armed group named Enyele killed more than 200 people. Enditem