By Ebi Kesiena
Heavy rains have triggered deadly floods in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, leaving at least 30 people dead and causing widespread destruction to homes, roads, and essential infrastructure.
According to Provincial Health Minister Patricien Gongo, the death toll as at Sunday though currently estimated at 30 with many of the fatalities resulting from collapsing walls and structures weakened by the relentless downpour.
The flooding was caused by the overflow of the Ndjili River, which cuts through the heart of the sprawling metropolis of nearly 17 million people. The river burst its banks late Friday night, inundating the main national highway and paralyzing transportation. Motorists were trapped for hours, with some spending the entire night in their vehicles.
“On the way home from the airport last night to welcome a friend, we spent the night in the car because there was no safe place to park,” Kinshasa resident Patricia Mikonga told Reuters.
The torrential rainfall left several neighborhoods without electricity, while others suffered acute water shortages. Governor Daniel Bumba Lubaki acknowledged that key water infrastructure had been damaged and promised that efforts were underway to restore services within days.
Addressing the public on state television, the governor attributed part of the tragedy to unregulated housing in flood-prone areas and warned that residents of informal settlements could face eviction as the city grapples with the aftermath.
The flooding underscores Kinshasa’s ongoing challenges with urban planning, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness.
