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Al Jazeera
08-04-2025
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Kinshasa residents call for action as flood death toll climbs
The death toll from flooding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has continued to rise as authorities race to evacuate people. The floods over the weekend, prompted by heavy rains, cut access to more than half of the capital Kinshasa. By Sunday evening, the death toll had risen to 33 as authorities struggled to evacuate and support hundreds of families trapped in their homes. The DRC's Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani announced on state television late on Sunday that 10 more people had been confirmed dead, adding to the previous day's count of 23. The heavy rains began last week, causing the key Ndjili River to overflow on Friday and submerge hundreds of buildings. While the situation had improved by Monday morning, some access roads remained blocked and vehicular traffic was limited. Many residents blamed the government for not responding quickly enough to the disaster. 'We lost everything and left everything behind,' said Marie Nzola, one of those whose properties were destroyed. 'The rain caught us by surprise late at night.' Officials said on Sunday that most of the deaths were caused by walls that collapsed. The flooding has hampered access to drinking water in at least 16 communes after water facilities were affected, the Congolese Ministry of the Interior said in a statement. Resident Clément Matwidi expressed frustration and asked the government for more support. 'Everything is lost due to the floods (and) we are here waiting for the government's decision,' he said. The government has set up at least four emergency shelters that were catering to hundreds of displaced families across the city, the ministry added. In 2022, at least 100 people were killed during similar flooding in Kinshasa. The disaster comes as the government tries to cope with a humanitarian disaster in the east of the country, more than 2,600km (1,600 miles) from Kinshasa, where conflict with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels has displaced hundreds of thousands.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dozens die after torrential rain hammers Congolese capital
Torrential rains and floods have killed at least 33 people in Kinshasa - the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo - according to officials. Desperate residents are trying to flee the floodwaters by wading, swimming or paddling to safety in homemade canoes. The city is home to 17 million people, and sits on the Congo river, which is one of the biggest in the world and stretches across the country. Flooding is common - the river recently reached its highest level in six decades. Parts of the capital are prone to soil erosion and in recent years the Congolese president has warned that the climate crisis is making flooding worse. Many homes in west Kinshasa were swept away following flooding overnight from Friday into Saturday. About half of the city's 26 districts are affected in total, according to the capital's mayor, who says search and rescue teams have been sent out. Worst affected are the city's outskirts as well as some of its poorest neighbourhoods. "The water has reached 1.5 metres high. We have just managed to save ourselves, the rest is trapped in our homes," Christophe Bola who lives in the Ndanu area told the AFP news agency. Other local residents have told reporters they are angry with the authorities, accusing them of being too slow to react and not sending enough help. The floods have also left people across much of Kinshasa struggling with water shortages, after water treatment pumps in the city were themselves inundated. The city's busiest road, which connects the centre with the international airport, is impassable, as is some of the motorway that connects the capital to the country's main port, Matadi. At least one tributary leading off the Congo river - the N'djili river - has burst its banks, trapping many residents there, said Deputy President Jacquemain Shabani in a statement on Sunday. It is said to be one of the more polluted rivers which Congolese scientists say contains high levels of fecal matter and other waste. Sewage maintenance is poor in many areas of Kinshasa, and there is little evidence of town planning. Last year the government announced plans to tackle this long-standing problem. Heavy downpours are also expected to affect north and north-eastern DR Congo in coming days. US envoy says he's working on DR Congo minerals deal Who's pulling the strings in the DR Congo crisis? Death sentence overturned for three Americans over DR Congo coup attempt Your phone, a rare metal and the war in DR Congo Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
DR Congo floods: Dozens die after torrential rain hammers Kinshasa
Torrential rains and floods have killed at least 33 people in Kinshasa - the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo - according to residents are trying to flee the floodwaters by wading, swimming or paddling to safety in homemade city is home to 17 million people, and sits on the Congo river, which is one of the biggest in the world and stretches across the is common - the river recently reached its highest level in six decades. Parts of the capital are prone to soil erosion and in recent years the Congolese president has warned that the climate crisis is making flooding homes in west Kinshasa were swept away following flooding overnight from Friday into half of the city's 26 districts are affected in total, according to the capital's mayor, who says search and rescue teams have been sent affected are the city's outskirts as well as some of its poorest neighbourhoods."The water has reached 1.5 metres high. We have just managed to save ourselves, the rest is trapped in our homes," Christophe Bola who lives in the Ndanu area told the AFP news local residents have told reporters they are angry with the authorities, accusing them of being too slow to react and not sending enough help. The floods have also left people across much of Kinshasa struggling with water shortages, after water treatment pumps in the city were themselves city's busiest road, which connects the centre with the international airport, is impassable, as is some of the motorway that connects the capital to the country's main port, least one tributary leading off the Congo river - the N'djili river - has burst its banks, trapping many residents there, said Deputy President Jacquemain Shabani in a statement on is said to be one of the more polluted rivers which Congolese scientists say contains high levels of fecal matter and other maintenance is poor in many areas of Kinshasa, and there is little evidence of town year the government announced plans to tackle this long-standing downpours are also expected to affect north and north-eastern DR Congo in coming days. More stories about DR Congo from the BBC: US envoy says he's working on DR Congo minerals dealWho's pulling the strings in the DR Congo crisis?Death sentence overturned for three Americans over DR Congo coup attemptYour phone, a rare metal and the war in DR Congo Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
