Severe overnight flooding has devastated multiple villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in over 100 fatalities, as reported by local authorities in a country already grappling with conflict and widespread displacement.
The floods, caused by heavy rainfall, swept through the village of Kasaba in South Kivu province during the night from Thursday to Friday, according to regional official Bernard Akili, who spoke to AFP on Saturday.
The intense rains led to the Kasaba River overflowing, with the swift currents carrying away debris, large stones, and trees, ultimately destroying homes along the lakeshore.
Akili noted that the deceased primarily included children and the elderly, with 28 individuals injured and approximately 150 houses lost.
Regional administrator Sammy Kalonji confirmed that at least 104 people perished and highlighted the significant material destruction. The provincial health minister, Theophile Walulika Muzaliwa, informed the Associated Press that rescue efforts were hindered by inadequate services and disrupted communication lines due to the flooding.
He mentioned that local leaders are on the ground, with the Red Cross being the only humanitarian organization currently active in the area. A local resident reported to AFP that by Saturday, around 119 bodies had been recovered.
A local resident informed AFP that by Saturday, approximately 119 bodies had been discovered.
Natural disasters frequently occur in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially along the eastern shores of the Great Lakes, where deforestation has compromised the stability of the surrounding hills.
In 2023, flooding resulted in the deaths of 400 individuals across various communities near Lake Kivu in South Kivu province, and just last month, flooding in the capital city of Kinshasa claimed 33 lives.
The DR Congo has also endured years of conflict between government forces and rebels in the eastern region, which intensified in late January when the Rwandan-supported M23 rebel group swiftly seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu state.
The Goma offensive resulted in nearly 3,000 fatalities and 2,880 injuries, exacerbating what is already regarded as one of the largest humanitarian crises globally, with over seven million people still displaced.
