Dozens of people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo after torrential rains flooded the capital, Kinshasa, in the last few days, and destroyed hundreds of homes.
The Ndjili River running through the megacity of 17 million people, one of the largest on the continent, burst its banks and submerged major roads, including Lumumba Boulevard, the main road leading to the airport.
Government officials said thousands of people have been displaced and at least 33 had been killed, though they warned that the death toll would likely rise as the floods recede.
Many African countries are facing frequent, deadly floods and droughts, which scientists attribute to climate change.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the second largest country in Africa, hundreds of people have died annually in recent years as a result of severe rains and flooding.
In 2024, Congo faced its worst flooding in six decades, according to Unicef and other United Nations agencies.
More than 300 people died, and 280,000 households were displaced. In 2023, more than 400 people died in floods; in 2022, rains and floods killed more than 160.
President Felix Tshisekedi visited the flooded areas on Saturday and promised food supplies and a safe return for those who were displaced. He blamed the high death toll on the illegal settlements that dot the city.
Kinshasa’s rapid, largely unplanned growth has resulted in widespread construction on vulnerable hillsides, which lack effective drainage systems.
“We just managed to save our lives,” said Denise Sukali, 45, who has been sheltering in a church since Saturday with her children. “I’m safe with all my family, but my house is under water.”
Source: NYTIMES