– Severe flooding in Kinshasa causes fatalities and displaces residents
– Impact of heavy rains on Kinshasa’s infrastructure and communities
– Recurring flood challenges in Kinshasa highlight urban planning issues.
Severe flooding in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has resulted in at least 33 fatalities and significant destruction. Heavy rains caused the Ndjili River to overflow, submerging numerous homes and displacing residents. The city’s infrastructure has been heavily impacted, with major roads, including the route to the airport, submerged.
The Congolese Interior Ministry reported that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue. Approximately 50 individuals have been hospitalized, and emergency services are working to reach areas cut off by the floods. The government has established emergency shelters to accommodate those displace.
This disaster underscores Kinshasa’s vulnerability to heavy rainfall, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and inadequate drainage systems. In 2022, similar flooding events claimed at least 100 lives in the city.
