Death toll rises to 33 as heavy rains flood Congo's capital

IANS April 7, 2025 192 views

Heavy rains have transformed Kinshasa into a catastrophic disaster zone, claiming 33 lives and causing unprecedented infrastructure damage. The government has activated a crisis management unit, deploying military and emergency teams to conduct urgent evacuations. Meteorologists warn of continued rainfall, potentially escalating the humanitarian crisis in the capital city of 17 million people. The flooding compounds existing challenges in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is already grappling with eastern regional conflicts and massive population displacement.

"We are still carrying out evacuations, particularly for vulnerable groups" - Daniel Bumba, Kinshasa Governor
Kinshasa, April 7: At least 33 people have been confirmed dead following heavy rains that flooded Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), authorities said on Monday.

Key Points

1

Torrential rains trigger massive flooding across Kinshasa's districts

2

Emergency response mobilized with military support

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Infrastructure paralyzed with power and water outages

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Continued rainfall threatens further destruction

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Security, Jacquemain Shabani said the torrential downpour, which occurred overnight from Friday to Saturday, has caused major damage across several districts of the capital, leaving dozens injured and destroying numerous homes.

In response, the government has set up a crisis management unit in coordination with the armed forces, several ministries and the Kinshasa provincial government to carry out evacuations and deploy emergency teams.

The flooding has paralysed much of the city's infrastructure, submerging major roads and triggering widespread power and water outages across the city.

The Ministry of Transport reported severe disruption to routes to and from the N'djili International Airport, prompting the deployment of emergency ferry services to assist stranded travellers.

Meteorologists forecast continued heavy rainfall in the coming days, raising fears of further destruction in the city of 17 million people.

The DRC's rainy season typically runs from November through May, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on April 6, Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba said that the death toll remains provisional and may rise as search and rescue efforts continue.

"We are still carrying out evacuations, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children," Bumba told local media.

With military support, emergency evacuations are underway in several of the worst-affected neighbourhoods, including Mont-Amba, Salongo, and Ndanu.

Major roads were submerged, causing widespread power and water outages across multiple districts.

The flooding comes as the country faces mounting instability with conflict in the eastern part of the country. Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have ramped up attacks there since the start of the year, with more than 7,000 people killed and millions displaced in recent months.

Eastern DRC remains a conflict hotspot due to its rich mineral wealth, with many armed groups vying for control of coltan, tin, tantalum and gold.

According to the United Nations, about one million people, including around 400,000 children, have been displaced since late January. The number is expected to rise as hostilities persist in North and South Kivu.

Reader Comments

M
Marie K.
This is heartbreaking 💔 The images coming out of Kinshasa are devastating. My thoughts are with all the families affected. The government needs to prioritize better drainage systems to prevent this from happening every rainy season.
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Jean-Luc T.
While the emergency response seems well-organized, I wonder why there weren't better preventative measures in place. Kinshasa floods almost every year - where's the infrastructure investment?
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Amina B.
Praying for my homeland 🙏 The double crisis of floods in the west and conflict in the east is too much for any country to bear. The international community needs to step up support.
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Paul D.
The evacuation efforts sound impressive given the circumstances. Major respect to the emergency teams working in such difficult conditions. Stay safe out there!
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Sophie M.
Climate change is making these seasonal rains more intense and unpredictable. This isn't just a Congo problem - it's a global crisis that requires global solutions.
T
Thomas R.
The article mentions the conflict in the east too - puts things in perspective. Congo is dealing with multiple humanitarian disasters simultaneously. The resilience of the Congolese people is incredible.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Congo Floods Kinshasa Disaster Natural Disaster Daniel Bumba African Urban Crisis
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