Dozens Killed as Floodwaters Wreak Havoc in Congolese Capital
Kinshasa, DR Congo – At least 33 people have died following devastating torrential rains and flooding in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. President Félix Tshisekedi has pledged government support, calling the situation a national emergency.
The city of over 17 million residents, built along the Congo River, witnessed entire neighbourhoods inundated, particularly low-lying and poorer areas like N’djili and Ndanu, where floodwaters reached 1.5 metres high, submerging homes and displacing thousands.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing in about 13 of Kinshasa’s 26 districts, according to city officials, with many residents forced to flee using makeshift rafts or wading through contaminated waters.
Infrastructure Collapse and Rising Anger
Key roads have been rendered impassable, including the highway connecting Kinshasa to its international airport and the motorway leading to Matadi, the country’s main port. Water treatment facilities were also overwhelmed, triggering widespread water shortages.
Authorities confirmed that at least one Congo River tributary, the N’djili River, burst its banks, with water contaminated by high levels of fecal matter and waste due to poor sewage infrastructure.
Residents have criticised the government’s slow response, despite previous warnings from President Tshisekedi about the increasing climate crisis impact and poor urban planning in Kinshasa.
Government Response and Meteorological Warning
“The republic will not abandon you,” President Tshisekedi said, adding that a crisis meeting had been convened to coordinate relief and recovery efforts.
The national meteorological agency warns that more heavy rains are expected in Kinshasa and other regions, including Goma, which remains unstable following recent rebel activity.
UN officials have also expressed concern, citing compounding humanitarian issues worsened by poor planning and insufficient emergency response infrastructure.
As the city struggles to cope, the floods are a grim reminder of how vulnerable urban centres in Africa are to extreme weather amid a growing global climate crisis.
