At least 141 persons killed in DRC floods
Source AfricaNews
Floods caused by heavy rains have killed more than 141 persons and caused severe damage to properties in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic Of Congo, DRC.
According to authorities, following an all-night heavy downpour of rain on December 12th and 13th, many roads in the heart of the city of some 15 million persons were submerged for hours with key routes cut off causing enormous damages.
“ at least 120 people died, nearly 39,000 households were flooded and at least 282 houses were destroyed leaving many families homeless,” authorities said. The death toll later rose to 141.
The government has announced a three days national mourning beginning yesterday December 14th.
The president of the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi who is currently at the US African Summit sends his condolences to the believed families in a tweet. He blamed Climate change for the major deadly floods that have for years claimed lives in his country.
“ the DDR is under pressure but unfortunately it is not sufficiently heard or supported…, flooding is an example of what we have been deploring for some time now,” he told Secretary General of state, Anthony Blinken at the US summit.
Most of those who lost their lives according to security sources were in hillside locations where there have been previous landslides.
To this effect the Governor of Kinshasa, Ngobila Mbaka, after offering his condolences to the families of the victims, also stressed the need for the population to respect planning rules and banned illegal construction in drainage areas and river beds, and emphasized the need to keep rivers and drainage channels free of trash and debris.
It should be recalled that in November 2019, over 40 persons died due to floods and landslides in Kinshasa, and in 2018, at least 37 deads were recorded due to the same floods in the capital city.
