The death toll from devastating flooding in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, has risen to 33, as authorities scramble to assist hundreds of displaced families. Heavy rainfall over the past week caused the Ndjili River to overflow on Friday, inundating vast parts of the city, reports AP/ UNB.
Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani confirmed the increased death toll on Sunday, attributing most fatalities to collapsing walls and structural damage following the flooding. The situation has worsened, with major roads still impassable as of Monday, making it difficult for rescue operations to reach all affected areas.
Residents have expressed anger at what they perceive as a slow government response to the disaster. “We lost everything and had to leave it all behind,” said Marie Nzola, who saw her home destroyed in the floods. “The rain caught us off guard late at night.”
In addition to the human toll, the flooding has disrupted essential services, including access to drinking water, with at least 16 communes reporting damage to water infrastructure. Emergency shelters have been set up to house displaced families, but many survivors remain in desperate need of aid.
Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba has assured the public that the main road to the airport, which also connects the capital with other regions, will be reopened within 72 hours. However, many residents, like Clément Matwidi, are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of government action. “Everything was lost in the floods, and now we’re just waiting for the authorities to act,” he said.
This flood disaster comes on the heels of a similar event in 2022, which claimed more than 100 lives. The city's infrastructure, already under strain, has proven ill-equipped to cope with the severity of these recurring natural disasters.
With the humanitarian situation further compounded by ongoing conflicts in eastern Congo, officials are under increasing pressure to provide immediate relief and long-term solutions for disaster resilience.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
