Heavy rains in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have caused devastating flooding, killing at least 30 people and destroying homes and infrastructure. The Ndjili River burst its banks on Friday night, submerging the main national road and leaving motorists stranded for hours, some spending the entire night in their vehicles. The fatalities were primarily caused by collapsing walls in the affected areas, according to Provincial Health Minister Patricien Gongo.
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The flooding also left many neighborhoods without power and others faced severe water shortages. Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba Lubaki confirmed damage to water infrastructure but assured that supply would be restored within days. He also blamed illegal housing developments for contributing to the deaths and warned that residents of unplanned settlements could face eviction.
Experts like hydrologist Raphael Tshimanga Muamba stated that human activity, particularly in degrading the river’s natural capacity, has worsened the impact of such floods. This catastrophic event comes amid ongoing instability in the country, with escalating conflict in the eastern region due to attacks by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.
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