Synopsis
Heavy rains and flooding in Kinshasa, DRC, have led to over 70 fatalities and thousands displaced. Local authorities are assessing humanitarian needs as emergency shelters are established.Key Takeaways
- Severe flooding in Kinshasa has displaced over 5,000 people.
- At least 72 fatalities reported due to the floods.
- Emergency shelters set up, but congestion is an issue.
- Continued heavy rainfall is expected.
- Local authorities are working to assess humanitarian needs.
Kinshasa, April 15 (NationPress) Intense rainfall and subsequent flooding have affected multiple provinces within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with the capital Kinshasa enduring some of the most severe impacts, according to the Ministry of Health.
The latest reports indicate that 11 health zones in Kinshasa have been significantly impacted, leading to the displacement of over 5,000 individuals. Tragically, at least 72 lives have been lost, and 170 people have sustained injuries due to the relentless downpours and the flooding that followed, as per the Xinhua news agency.
Both Tanganyika and South Kivu provinces in eastern DRC have also experienced considerable destruction, prompting local authorities to evaluate the full range of humanitarian needs.
Emergency shelters and care facilities have been set up in various stadiums around Kinshasa. However, with the Stade des Martyrs, the nation's largest sports arena, already accommodating over 4,500 displaced individuals, officials have initiated a plan to reduce congestion by relocating some residents to alternative sites.
The health ministry has reiterated its dedication to enhancing multi-sectoral collaboration and ensuring timely, efficient, and coordinated responses to both health and humanitarian crises.
Forecasts indicate that heavy rain will continue in the coming days, sparking concerns of additional devastation in the city of 17 million people, which is already precarious due to rapid and unregulated urban expansion.
Typically, the rainy season in the DRC lasts from November through May.
