Floods claim 19 lives in Kinshasa, DR Congo
At least 19 fatalities have been reported in the capital city of Congo, due to floods triggered by torrential rains on June 14, 2025.
Torrential rain triggered deadly floods in Kinshasa on June 14, flooding hundreds of homes and claiming at least 19 lives.
Neighborhoods in the outlying parts of the city were the worst hit. Makeshift homes and unpaved roads make these areas particularly vulnerable to flooding.
Heavy rains from Friday through Saturday triggered floods and landslides in Kinshasa’s western neighborhood of Ngaliema, killing at least 17 people, the local mayor, Fulgence Bolokome, told the radio station Top Congo. Two avenues in the city were also cut off, he added.
Two other people died when the deluge toppled a wall in the southern neighborhood of Lemba, Mayor Jean-Serge Poba said. A police camp and a bridge were damaged. Meanwhile, more than 500 homes were flooded in the neighboring commune of Matete déplore authorities reported.
Local media attributed the floods to the lack of efficient drainage systems and clogged canals due to poor maintenance.
Earlier floods claimed around 165 lives between April 4 and 11 as heavy rains struck Kinshasa.
Kinshasa remains vulnerable to flooding due to its largely unplanned infrastructure and the equatorial climate of the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the United Nations, around 6.9 million people were affected by torrential rains and flooding in West and Central Africa in 2024.
Feature image credit: MJPE-RDC
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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