At least 22 killed in wedding party fire in Kinshasa, Congo

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At least 22 killed in wedding party fire in Kinshasa, Congo

1 month ago

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INDIATIMES 2

LATIMES

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AFRICANEWS

At least 22 killed in wedding party fire in Kinshasa, Congo

Credited from: AFRICANEWS

At least 22 people have died in a wedding party fire in Kinshasa, DRC.
The blaze started late Friday and lasted into Saturday morning.
Authorities are investigating the cause and noting safety violations.
Narrow hallways impeded escape efforts during the fire.
Deadly fires are common in Kinshasa due to inadequate safety measures.

At least 22 people were killed in a fire at a wedding party in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fire broke out on Friday night and continued into early Saturday at a venue in Lingwala, according to the local mayor, Norbert Mushinga. Several others were injured, and attempts to escape saw crowds congesting narrow hallways, leading to further casualties, reports Indiatimes and Los Angeles Times.

The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Norbert Nzindula, the Lingwala municipality mayor, indicated that safety norms were not respected, complicating the evacuation efforts. "This is regrettable, so we are going to take action," he stated after inspecting the site, indicating that measures would be implemented for safety across similar venues, according to Africa News and South China Morning Post.

Deadly fires have become increasingly common in densely populated areas like Kinshasa, especially during the dry season, as urban development often lacks sufficient fire services. Reports indicate multiple fires have occurred this year alone, highlighting ongoing safety concerns, as noted by Indiatimes and South China Morning Post.