At least 22 people have died following massive flooding in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as torrential rains swept through the city Friday, collapsing walls and turning roads into rivers, officials confirmed Sunday.
The downpour left more than half of Kinshasa inaccessible, including the main road to the country’s busiest airport, according to authorities. Provincial health minister Patricien Ngongo said most of the victims were killed by falling walls as the water quickly overwhelmed poorly built structures across the city.
The key roadway leading to the airport—which also serves as a lifeline connecting Kinshasa to the rest of the country—was heavily damaged by the floods. Governor Daniel Bumba announced that it has been partially reopened to light vehicles and is expected to be fully operational within 72 hours.
The road closure has already begun to impact local trade, with truck drivers stranded and unable to reach their deliveries.
“We’ve been here since nightfall, but we’re not making any progress, because we’ve been told that the road is cut in two, and we have goods that we’re going to pick up,” said Blaise Ndendo, a frustrated truck driver waiting for passage.
The scene is tragically familiar for residents of Kinshasa. In 2022, similar floods killed at least 100 people, raising serious questions about infrastructure and disaster preparedness in a city of over 17 million people.
With rainfall patterns expected to intensify due to climate change, officials and citizens alike are calling for urgent investment in drainage systems, urban planning, and emergency response to prevent future disasters from claiming more lives.
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