Heavy rain from 03 January has caused flooding and landslides in and around the city of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At least 37 people are thought to have died, and it is feared that this figure could rise as further assessments are carried out.
Local media said that the fatalities occurred in several areas around the city, including in Ngaliema, Selembao, Bandalungwa, Limete and Barumbu.
The provincial minister for health and social affairs, Dominique Weloli, told AFP that the district of Ngaliema, a poor hillside community, was particularly hit. Other affected areas include Kingabwa, Mombele and Ndjili.
Many of the the deaths were caused by the collapse of houses and walls and the flooding has once again brought Kinshasa’s crumbling housing and poor infrastructure, in particular lack of adequate drainage, under scrutiny.
The flooding has also damaged electricity infrastructure and at least 10 communes in Kinshasa are without power.
Rain and Rivers
Some local media reports suggest that at least two smaller rivers – the Ndjili and the Tshwenge – have burst their banks, damaging bridges in Ndjili district and flooding areas of the city close to the rivers.
Local media reported that the rain fell non-stop for 23 hours from 03 January to 04 January, 2018.
According to WMO figures, 182 mm of rain fell in Ndjili, Kinshasa in 24 hours to 04 January.
Social Media
Nouveau bilan inondations #Kinshasa #RDC 37 morts! pic.twitter.com/fsIv02WOEj
— Nicolas Pinault (@PinaultNicolas) January 4, 2018
Les inondations ont frappé Kinshasa en plein centre-ville. Crédit photos: @TopCongo Au moins 33 personnes sont mortes. Lire l'article ici : https://t.co/DfLi1H5HQ4 pic.twitter.com/fzwLqAtq3v
— VOA Afrique (@VOAAfrique) January 4, 2018
Au moins 33 morts a #Kinshasa après les #inondations #RDC photos @VOAFrench pic.twitter.com/SBw2U5pAIq
— Nicolas Pinault (@PinaultNicolas) January 4, 2018
Pluies diluviennes à KINSHASA
Le ministre provincial des Affaires sociales annonce un bilan lourd.« 13 personnes sont mortes à Ngaliema, 9 à Selembao, 5 à Bandalungwa, 4 à Limete (Pakadjuma) et une à Barumbu ».@WamuHenriette @leParrainRDC @LwarhibaM @PatriciaPanzu pic.twitter.com/27kCvUF9Ts
— foxtime (@foxtimecongo) January 5, 2018
Les inondations ont frappé Kinshasa en plein centre-ville. Crédit photos: @TopCongo Au moins 33 personnes sont mortes. Lire l'article ici : https://t.co/DfLi1H5HQ4 pic.twitter.com/fzwLqAtq3v
— VOA Afrique (@VOAAfrique) January 4, 2018
#RDC @TopCongo a pris des photographies des inondations à Kinshasa, dans le district de la Funa : au moins 33 morts. Lire l'article ici : https://t.co/DfLi1H5HQ4 pic.twitter.com/PotO9RTm6i
— VOA Afrique (@VOAAfrique) January 4, 2018
Flood Summary
Locations
B - Selembao
C - Bandalungwa
D - Limete
E - Barumbu
F - Kingabwa
G - Mombele
H - Ndjili
Magnitude
Ndjili, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo - January 3 to January 4, 2018
Ndjili river, Kinshasa - January 4, 2018
Damages
Kinshasa - January 3 to January 7, 2018
