Devastating torrential rains have claimed the lives of around 30 people in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, causing widespread destruction and plunging large parts of the city into crisis, local authorities told AFP on Sunday.
The downpour began late Friday night and continued into Saturday, unleashing severe flooding across several suburbs of the metropolis, home to nearly 17 million people. In some areas, floodwaters rose so high that residents were forced to navigate submerged streets in canoes.
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“We’re currently counting over 30 fatalities, and many of the injured have been evacuated,” said Patricien Gongo Abakazi, Kinshasa’s provincial minister of public health. Victims reportedly drowned or were crushed as walls collapsed under the force of the water.
Key roads, including National Road 1 — the main highway connecting the city center to the airport — were rendered impassable, effectively bringing the city to a halt. Residents described the sudden surge in water levels. “At around 2 pm, we suddenly noticed that the water was rising in the plot, and it just kept getting higher. As a precaution, we took the children to flee, as it was difficult to get through,” said Orline, a resident of Masina in eastern Kinshasa.
In the Debonhomme neighborhood, floodwaters swallowed vehicles and forced people to swim or use dugout canoes to get around. Some residents were trapped on upper floors of their homes as water inundated the ground level. “The water rose to 1.5 meters (five feet). We barely escaped — others are still trapped inside,” reported Christophe Bola from the Ndanu district in Limete commune.
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The floods intensified Kinshasa’s already infamous traffic jams, leaving roads gridlocked and countless vehicles stranded. Frustrated residents criticized the government’s response. “The authorities reacted too slowly and did too little,” several locals told AFP.
The neighboring province of Kongo-Central also experienced significant flooding from the same relentless rains.
Flooding is a recurring disaster in Kinshasa, a city situated along the Congo River, Africa’s second-longest river. Poor urban planning, lack of proper drainage systems, blocked sewers, and widespread garbage accumulation leave many neighborhoods vulnerable to such catastrophes.
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The risk is even greater for residents living in informal settlements or areas with poorly constructed homes and dirt roads, where protection from natural disasters is minimal.
This is not the first time Kinshasa has faced such devastation. In 2022, similar rains led to landslides and flooding that killed at least 120 people.
Much of Central Africa has been battered by extreme weather since Thursday. Countries including Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have also reported significant damage, with aid agencies estimating that around 6.9 million people across West and Central Africa have been affected by this season’s severe storms and heavy rainfall.
