About 138 people have been killed in a boat accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo, police said.

They said the accident took place in the country's western Bandundu province on Wednesday, the Reuters news agency reported.

Further details were not immediately available.

Last year, at least 73 people were killed after a boat sank on Lake Mai Ndombe in Bandundu province.

Despite its vast mineral wealth, roads are almost non-existent outside the country's main towns.

Travel is often limited to aircraft and the boats that ply its huge network of rivers.

Accidents are frequent due to overloading, lack of maintenance, and lax enforcement of safety standards.