File photo shows refugees of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) ready to cross over to Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, Dec. 5, 2011. (Xinhua/Guy Gervais Kitina)

KINSHASA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 42 civilians drowned in the Ubangi river on Monday as they fled violence between an armed group and security forces in South Ubangi province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), authorities said Friday.

The Interior Ministry in Kinshasa said boats carrying villagers capsized in the river on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.

The vice-governor of the province of South Ubangi, Jean Bakatoye, said the 42 people died as they were crossing the river under heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms.

According to the same source, panic was observed in the city of Dongo after a group of assailants attacking an army position forced the population to flee to the the Republic of Congo.

In recent years, armed groups have regularly attacked army positions in this part of the country. In 2009, a clash between the army and an armed group named Enyele killed more than 200 people.