Severe flooding in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has resulted in the deaths of at least 22 individuals and has disrupted access to more than half of the city, including the primary airport, according to officials on Sunday.
The provincial health minister, Patricien Ngongo, reported that most of the fatalities from Friday’s flooding were due to collapsing walls.
Although the main route to the airport was initially affected by the floodwaters, it has since reopened for light vehicles and is expected to accommodate all traffic within 72 hours, as stated by Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba.
This road is crucial as it connects Kinshasa to the rest of the country, raising concerns among officials about potential trade disruptions.
“We’ve been here since nightfall, but we’re not making any progress because we’ve been informed that the road is severed, and we have goods to collect,” remarked truck driver Blaise Ndendo.
In 2022, similar flooding in Kinshasa claimed the lives of at least 100 people. In the aftermath of the recent disaster, several notable civil society leaders in Kinshasa have urged the mayor to step down, while local authorities have asserted that the flooded and collapsed structures did not adhere to urban planning regulations.
In addition to the confirmed deaths, 46 individuals have been hospitalized, and 75 families are set to be temporarily accommodated in a nearby stadium.
