At least 33 people have lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, following devastating floods triggered by torrential rainfall.
The floods caused widespread destruction, sweeping away homes and submerging entire neighbourhoods.
According to the country’s Interior Ministry, the fatalities resulted from intense flooding that washed away residential buildings and left many others underwater.
“The death toll could still rise, with almost 50 people in the hospital and rescue services attempting to reach areas cut off by the floods,” he noted.
Governor of Kinshasa, Daniel Lubaki, attributed the high number of casualties to poor construction practices, noting that many of the structures destroyed were built too close to the river without proper planning approval.
“Those left homeless by the floods are being housed in a stadium,” the ministry said.
While some neighbourhoods remain submerged, there were signs that the situation was beginning to improve, as the floodwaters started to recede.
Notably, the road to Kinshasa’s airport has reopened, suggesting a partial return to normalcy in affected areas.
