Authorities confirmed on Monday that at least 29 people lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital Kinshasa over the weekend due to heavy flooding and rain-related incidents.
Governor Daniel Bumba said that overnight rains on Friday and Saturday affected several districts including Ngaliema, Masina, Lemba and Matete. The heavy downpour caused landslides and widespread flooding, damaging homes, roads and bridges.
In Lemba, a couple died when a landslide hit their home. Several bridges were also destroyed in the Kalamu district, causing major disruptions to traffic and mobility.
“The rains caused landslides and floods, destroying homes and damaging roads. Families spent the night outside because their homes were completely submerged,” Governor Bumba told reporters. He added that emergency services were carrying out evacuations and providing temporary shelter to displaced residents.
Bumba called for national solidarity and assured that the government would help the victims. He also urged people living in high-risk areas to take extra precautions as more rainfall was forecast in the coming days.
Meteorological officials reported that the city received 90 millimetres of rain, an unusually high amount for this time of year.
The tragedy comes just two months after more than 40 people died in similar weather-related disasters in Kinshasa during heavy rainfall in April.