At least 130 people were killed when a boat with 250 passengers on board capsized in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an official said Thursday.

The tragedy occurred Wednesday night on a river in the Kwamouth region in Bandundu province, the official told Xinhua.

There were more than 250 passengers on board the boat, mostly businessmen, farmers and students, the report said.

There could be more than 200 deaths from the mishap apparently caused by overloading, the National Transport Office said, adding rescuers were searching for survivors.

In May, over 100 people died in a similar accident in River Congo in Maniema province.