African Democratic Congo ship capsized..."At least 78 people died".

More than 70 people were killed in a boat overturned in the African Democratic Congo, the Associated Press reported.

At least 78 people were killed when a ship capsized at Lake Kivu on the border between Democratic Congo and Rwanda, authorities in Democratic Congo's South Kivu province said, according to the news agency.

Governor Zhangjac Purush said there were 278 people on board and the death toll could rise further.

Local officials said about 50 people had been rescued.

Meanwhile, the dpa news agency, citing other officials, said about 700 people were aboard the ship and 126 bodies have been recovered so far.

The ship was on its way from Minova, South Kivu to Goma, North Kivu.

Foreign media said merchants transport goods through Lake Kivu as civil war blocked land traffic between Minova and Goma in the region.