Key Takeaways:

• Severe flooding in Kinshasa, DRC, has led to a death toll exceeding 30.
• The Ndjili River overflowed, inundating numerous areas and damaging infrastructure.
• Residents criticize government's slow response amid worsening humanitarian conditions.

Heavy rainfall in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has resulted in devastating flooding, with officials reporting a death toll of at least 30 fatalities. The torrential rains that began on Friday caused the Ndjili River to overflow, submerging vast areas of the city which is home to approximately 17 million people.

According to provincial health officials, the majority of deaths occurred due to collapsing walls as the floodwaters quickly rose. Many residents, including Patricia Mikonga, described being stranded in their vehicles for hours, unable to safely navigate the city’s flooded roads.

Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba Lubaki acknowledged the destruction of water infrastructure and the impacts of illegal housing constructions, stating that such unregulated developments contributed to the crisis. In a recent interview, hydrologists noted that human activities have compromised the river's natural capacity to handle heavy rainfall.

As of Monday, the death toll had risen to 33, with hundreds displaced and emergency shelters established to aid those affected. Local residents criticized the government for its inadequate response to this natural disaster and demanded improved infrastructure and planning to mitigate future risks.

This disaster occurs amid ongoing conflict in the eastern region of the country, where violence from M23 rebels significantly exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, impacting millions of people across the nation. Reports indicate that the government is struggling to balance emergency responses in both areas.

For further information, you can read the original articles from Al Jazeera, TRT, Africa News, NPR, and another report from Africa News.