Update, 23 November 2022:
More flooding and landslides were reported in the region from 21 November 2022. At least 16 people died in a landslide in Kamituga Town, South Kivu Province. The town was the scene of a similar tragic incident in September 2022 where around 50 people lost their lives.
Radio Okapi reported landslides and floods in areas near Goma and Katale in South Kivu Province. Roads were blocked or washed out. Five people on motorcycles were swept away in Kitsule. One body had been recovered and 4 people were still missing, as of 21 November.
Original report, 21 November 2022:
Over 40 people have lost their lives after heavy rain caused landslides and flooding in eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Rwanda over the last 2 weeks.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Radio Okapi, the United Nations radio in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reports that 32 people lost their lives in landslides in the mining towns of Rubaya and Bihambwe in the chiefdom of Bahunde, Masisi Territory in North Kivu Province.
The landslides were triggered by heavy rains and flooding overnight 17 to 18 November 2022. Officials and locals are continuing to search the area for several people still thought to be missing and it is feared the death toll may rise further.
Twenty-six of the fatalities occurred in illegal or informal gold mines in Rubaya. Six people died in Bihambwe. Houses have been destroyed and crops damaged in affected areas. Parts of Mwesso in Masisi Territory were also affected.
Heavy rain has affected parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since this first week of November 2022.
On 09 November there were unconfirmed reports of flooding in Butembo in North Kivu Province. On 14 November local media reported landslide and rain damage to a road in Katsiru locality, Rutshuru territory, North Kivu. Around 50 vehicles and passengers were stuck on the road for several days.
On 14 November local media reported heavy rain had caused a wall to collapse in Bukavu, Souh-Kivu Province, killing 3 people.
In a separate report, media said 4 people died and several dozen others were injured after heavy rains caused floods and landslides in Bunyakiri in the territory of Kalehe in South Kivu. Landslides destroyed several houses in the area during this time.
Rwanda
Meanwhile in neighbouring Rwanda, local media reported 3 people died after heavy rain caused floods in the capital city of Kigali on 17 November 2022.
The fatalities occurred in 3 separate incidents in Nyarugenge, Gasabo and Kicukiro districts. The City of Kigali also urged residents to avoid dumping waste in water channels and drainages. Some roads in the city were blocked or closed due to floods.
Social Media
#RDC Au_moins vingt personnes sont mortes samedi et vendredi dans des éboulements et inondations causés par des fortes pluies dans le site minier de #Rubaya en territoire de #Masisi au #Nord_Kivu. Parmi les victimes des creuseurs et villageois selon l’ #AFP. pic.twitter.com/r1pct2vuiA
— Baraka MUNYAMPFURA Héritier (@HeritierBarak) November 20, 2022
Muri ibihe by’imvura ⛈turakangurira abantu bose ibi bikurikira:
-Kwimuka ahashobora gushyira ubuzima bwabo mu kaga
-Kwirinda gutwara ibinyabiziga mu mvura nyinshi
-Kwirinda kujugunya imyanda mu miyoboro y’amazi no muri za ruhurura
-No gutanga amakuru ku cyateza ingorane cyose. pic.twitter.com/ILEfGdl84d— City of Kigali (@CityofKigali) November 16, 2022
Featured image: For illustration only. Landslide in South Kivu DRC April 2022. Credit: Benefit Zihindula Tchimbamulume via Twitter @BTchimbamulume
