Devastating floods struck in North Kivu Province of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on 02 October, 2020.
The provincial government reported at least 11 fatalities and several people still missing after flooding in the town of Sake, situated near Lake Kivu and close to the border with South Kivu Province. The search for missing people is ongoing and the death toll could rise further.
Heavy rain on the steep slopes surrounding the town from 01 October caused the Mutahyo river to break its banks, sending raging flood waters, mud and debris sweeping through areas of Sake. Houses were washed away and school and health buildings damaged. Dozens of people are thought to be homeless. Bridges were destroyed and roads washed out, cutting connections between Sake and the provincial capital, Goma.
“The damage is enormous,” North Kivu Governor Carly Nzanzu Kasivita said. A local official said the town has been “wiped off the map.”
More than 50 people died in the neighbouring province of South Kivu last month after a landslide, thought to have been triggered by heavy rainfall, caused by the collapse of three gold mines.
Social Media
Nord-Kivu : Au lendemain des pluies diluviennes à Sake qui ont fait des dégâts humains et matériels importants, le Gouv @NzanzuKasivita ainsi qu’une équipe mixte de son gouvernement et de l’Assemblée provinciale le ont fait le déplacement pour assister les familles touchées. pic.twitter.com/VPahmKENAs
— Job Kakule (@jobkakule2) October 2, 2020
Nord-Kivu : Plusieurs dégâts matériels et humains nous faut savoir la pluie d’hier à SAKE.
Déjà 11 corps retrouvés 😭😭😭
Je suis #SAKE@KiloshoMuseme @ANICET__ @MichaelGuhanika @FalialaKiza @HichamRhan @LitsaniChoukran @SalomonKalonda @OlivierKamitatu @Franciskalombos @sdk_dp pic.twitter.com/7ODuQHDFlG
— Fazili kimwanga (@FKimwanga) October 2, 2020
Urgence d’aide humanitaire au Nord Kivu : J’invite Kinshasa à agir en faveur des victimes : 11 morts, des écoles détruites et emportées, des fermes détruites, plusieurs familles sans abri à Saké, à Pinga, à Lubero, et Béni, le Gouvernement central doit agir vite et efficacement. pic.twitter.com/3PDVTaOUCi
— Hon. Jean-Paul Lumbulumbu (@jplumbulumbu76) October 2, 2020
Les membres du Gouvernement @CarlyNzanzu porteurs d’un message de solidarité nationale aux habitants de #Sake. https://t.co/S8qKKqlHse pic.twitter.com/rBgurgOm9v
— Nord Kivu (@NordKivu6) October 2, 2020
Caution: The video below has images some may find disturbing.
