Police say at least 5 drown when boat overturns on river in Liberian capital

MONROVIA, Liberia – Police say a boat has capsized in the Liberian capital, killing at least five. Many more may be missing.

Police spokesman Sam Collins said that another two people who survived Monday's accident were being treated at a hospital. Collins did not know how many people were aboard the boat, which overturned in the Mesurado river while crossing from one slum neighborhood of Monrovia to another.

He said rescuers were still looking for the dead and potential survivors.

Furcas Wilson, a human rights activist who saw the accident, said at least 20 people were aboard the boat, and he saw a few of them swim to shore.

Many Monrovians who live in the capital's slums prefer to travel by boat, which is cheaper and bypasses the city's bumper-to-bumper traffic.