Flood deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to rise as authorities compete to evacuate people.
The weekend’s flooding was driven by heavy rains, cutting access to more than half of the capital Kinshasa. By Sunday evening, the death toll had risen to 33 as authorities struggled to evacuate and support hundreds of families trapped in their homes.
DRC Home Minister Jacquemain Shabani announced on state television later Sunday that 10 more people died, adding to the previous 23 count.
Heavy rain began last week, and on Friday the main Ndjili River overflowed, soaking hundreds of buildings.
Things had improved by Monday morning, but some access roads remained blocked and vehicle traffic was limited.
Many residents accused the government of not responding to the disaster quickly enough.
“We lost everything and left everything behind,” said Marie Nuzora, whose property was destroyed. “The rain was surprising late at night.”
Authorities said Sunday that most of the deaths were caused by collapsed walls.
At least 16 communes have been blocking access to drinking water after flooding has affected water facilities, the Congolese Ministry of Interior said in a statement.
Resident Clement Matwiddy expressed his frustration and called on the government for further support. “Everything is lost due to the flood (and) we are waiting for the government’s decision here,” he said.
The government has set up at least four emergency shelters that cater to hundreds of displaced people in the city, the ministry added.
In 2022, at least 100 people died in a similar flood in Kinshasa.
The disaster was more than 2,600 km (1,600 miles) from Kinshasa as the government attempted to deal with the humanitarian disaster in the country’s eastern part of the country, and conflicts with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels expelled hundreds of thousands.
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