At least 22 dead as floods devastate Congo’s capital, Kinshasa
Dozens killed as heavy rains trigger floods in Kinshasa, cutting off roads and access to Congo’s main airport. PHOTO: TRT
At least 22 people have died following torrential rains that triggered major flooding in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to authorities. The disaster has paralysed transport in the city of nearly 17 million people and severed access to the country’s main airport.
The downpours, which began late Friday and continued into Saturday, overwhelmed drainage systems and submerged large parts of the city. Victims were reported to have drowned or died when their homes collapsed under the weight of the water.
Kinshasa’s provincial health minister, Patricien Gongo Abakazi, told AFP the death toll was likely around 30 and that many injured residents had been evacuated for treatment.
"This is a devastating blow to communities already living in vulnerable conditions," he said.
Several impoverished and densely populated neighbourhoods were worst hit, with floodwaters cutting off National Road One—Kinshasa’s main artery connecting the city centre to the airport—as well as key surrounding districts.
The incident comes amid wider instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is facing ongoing armed conflict that has claimed thousands of lives in recent months.
Flooding is a frequent concern in Kinshasa, which lies along the Congo River—Africa’s second-largest river—and lacks sufficient infrastructure to cope with extreme weather events.
Authorities have yet to issue a full damage assessment, but emergency services continue to search for survivors and assist displaced residents.