Floods and landslides claim more than 60 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo

More than 60 people have died and 16 remain missing in the Democratic Republic of Congo following torrential rains that triggered devastating floods and landslides over the past couple of days.

The city of Bukavu, home to an estimated two million people in South Kivu province, faced the brunt of the disaster with at least 20 fatalities reported on Tuesday, December 26, 2023.

Among the tragic incidents, a wall collapsed on worshippers during a church service in Bukavu, claiming five lives, as reported by Albert Migabo Nyagaza, a local official and pastor. Additionally, three other people were swept away in the flooding. Residents like Yvonne Mukupi have witnessed the horror firsthand, with neighbors swept away by the relentless floodwaters and bodies being recovered under trees.

Another 20 lives were lost in the village of Burinyi, situated 50 km (31 miles) from Bukavu.

Heavy rains, floods and landslides were also reported in Kasai-Central province, where at least 22 people died on Tuesday. Authorities of the town of Kananga said a landslide engulfed houses, churches and roads, killing entire families and leaving people homeless.

“Most of these deaths were caused by the collapse of the walls of houses built on unsuitable land,” Kananga Mayor Rose Muadi Musube said. “I am asking the prime minister to come to our aid and for the government to provide us with substantial assistance so that we can bury our dead with dignity,” Muadi Musube added.

Another landslide occurred in the town of Kamituga, also in South Kivu, on Sunday, December 24. Deputy Mayor Alexandre Ngandu Kamundala detailed a scene where some 25 people, mostly miners, were sheltering in a cabin from the rains when a landslide struck, sweeping them into a fast-flowing river below.

While five individuals managed to escape, 20 were swept away, and four lifeless bodies have been recovered.

References:

¹ Floods in a central province in Congo kill at least 22 people – africanews – December 28, 2023

² At least 15 dead in east DR Congo landslides – AFP – December 27, 2023

³ A Landslide In Eastern Congo’s South Kivu Province Killed At Least 4 People And Some 20 Are Missing – AP – December 26, 2023

⁴ At Least 40 More People Die in Floods, Landslides in DR Congo – Reuters – December 27, 2023

⁵ Torrential rains kill at least 22 in Congo’s Kasai region – Reuters – December 26, 2023

Featured image credit: africanews (stillshot)