At least 80 people have died after a boat sank in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The disaster happened on Wednesday on the Kwa River, 70kilometres from the town of Mushie in the province of Maï-Ndombe near the border with neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville.

In a statement on social media, President Félix Tshisekedi said he was “devastated” over the incident

The president said those affected would receive help and also ordered an investigation into what caused it.

Deadly boat accidents are common in D.R Congo, where boats are frequently overcrowded with passengers who are rarely given safety jackets and often cannot swim.