At least 22 people have died following severe flooding in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after heavy rains lashed the city on Friday, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
Provincial health minister Patricien Ngongo said most of the deaths were caused by collapsing walls. The deluge left large parts of the city submerged and cut off access to over half of Kinshasa, including the main route to the international airport.
The key airport road, which also connects the city to the rest of the country, sustained serious damage but has since reopened to light traffic. Full access is expected to resume within 72 hours, according to Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba. Officials have raised concerns about the disruption to trade and transport.
“We’ve been here since nightfall, but we’re not making any progress because we’ve been told that the road is cut in two, and we have goods that we’re going to pick up,” said Blaise Ndendo, a truck driver.
The incident echoes a deadly 2022 flood in Kinshasa that killed over 100 people.
In the wake of the latest disaster, civil society leaders have called for the resignation of the city’s mayor, while local authorities blamed the destruction on poorly constructed homes that failed to meet urban planning standards.
Alongside the fatalities, 46 people have been hospitalized, and 75 families displaced by the floods are being temporarily housed in a nearby stadium.
