AFP reported quoting Nestor Magbado, a spokesman for the governor of the northwestern province of Mongala, that 51 bodies had been recovered by late Friday from the river, and 69 more people were believed to be missing while there were 39 survivors.

The official said that the vessel, which was made with nine traditional wooden canoes, known as pirogues, tying together, had sunk on the Congo River during the night of Monday to Tuesday possibly due to "overcrowding aggravated by bad weather".

Mongala officials had informed authorities in Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital, of the sinking just after it occurred, but had waited for more information about the number of casualties, according to a report by AFP citing Mongala governor's spokesperson Magbado.

Local authorities said the search and rescue operations are continuing, but hopes of finding more survivors are fading.

The provincial authorities have declared three days of mourning in Mongala from Monday, media reports said.