KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Major flooding has severely impacted several neighborhoods in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, resulting in at least 19 fatalities, according to local authorities. The flooding, which began due to heavy rains from Friday through Saturday, triggered not only floods but also landslides in the western neighborhood of Ngaliema.
The local mayor, Fulgence Bolokome, reported that at least 17 people lost their lives in this specific area. Two main avenues in Kinshasa were also rendered impassable as a result of the deluge. Furthermore, Mayor Jean-Serge Poba of Lemba, a southern neighborhood, confirmed that two additional fatalities occurred when a wall collapsed during the severe weather conditions. Damage was also reported at a nearby police camp and a bridge in the region.
Residents expressed their shock and devastation at the calamity. Clovis Kalenga, a local resident, recounted the moment the disaster struck around 3 a.m.: “It was around 3 a.m. when we heard a loud noise. When we went outside, the neighbors’ wall had collapsed. The man and his wife both died, leaving behind five children who made it out unharmed,” he stated in an interview.
This catastrophe is not an isolated incident, as flooding in Kinshasa had previously claimed at least 22 lives in April. Those earlier floods also disrupted access to more than half of the city and affected the country’s main airport, highlighting the ongoing challenges the city faces in managing severe weather events and their aftermath.
The recent floods underscore the persistent risk of natural disasters in Kinshasa, compounded by inadequate infrastructure and urban planning. With the rainy season continuing, authorities and residents alike remain on high alert, fearing further devastation as the city grapples with the effects of climate change and its vulnerability to heavy rainfall.
The community's resilience will be tested as they work to recover from this disaster, but the immediate focus will be on providing aid to affected families and beginning the rebuilding process in the wake of such tragedy.
