At least 45 people have died and 112 are missing after a boat sank in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The accident happened after the boat struck a rock on the Ubangi river near the border with the Central African Republic, said Mathieu Bela, district commissioner for North Ubangi.

Another 25 passengers survived the accident, Mr Bela added.

He said: "The accident happened on Tuesday night when the boat struck a rock in the dark.

"There are no signs or signals, which does nothing to help navigation."

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.