Severe floods claim one life in Kinshasa, Congo

Floods struck Kinshasa following the first heavy rains of the rainy season from Friday night to Saturday. Several neighborhoods were inundated and traffic was disrupted in several neighborhoods.

Reports indicate that several rivers overflowed, with vehicles partially submerged and swept away by the floodwaters.

Several homes were destroyed, and a dike in the Salembao commune was breached. People were stranded and seeking emergency shelter. A three-year-old boy was reported dead after his body was found in the rubble of a destroyed house in the Kalamu commune.

The city’s power distribution station was damaged by the floods. Schools, markets, and other businesses were closed in the affected neighborhoods. Streets became impassable due to the floodwaters, with the situation worsened by blocked gutters, which prevented proper drainage.

References:

¹ Fortes pluies à Kinshasa : la ville inondée, les activités paralysées – Radio Okapi – October 19, 2024

² RDC: des pluies diluviennes provoquent des inondations dans plusieurs quartiers de Kinshasa – RFI – October 20, 2024

Rishav Kothari

Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.

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