The boat named Jesus Christ sank overnight on Monday while traveling along the Lukenie River with about 300 people on board, after hitting pieces of wood underwater. The local authorities confirmed earlier that 43 people had been found alive and three bodies had been discovered.
The bodies were found at the site of the sinking, near the village of Madjoko in the Mai-Ndombe province, the Actualite news outlet reported.
The boat was not designed to carry 300 people, which may have partially caused the sinking, the report said.
Earlier reports also said about 100 people were missing following the incident.