Heavy rainfall and subsequent floods have claimed the lives of at least 33 individuals in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to official reports. Desperate to escape the rising floodwaters, many residents are seeking refuge by traversing the swamped cityscape via makeshift canoes, swimming, or wading through the dangerous conditions. Kinshasa, home to approximately 17 million people, sits along the banks of the expansive Congo River, notorious for frequent flooding events that have been exacerbated in recent years due to warnings about the impact of the climate crisis voiced by the Congolese president. Widely affected, particularly the city’s outskirts and impoverished communities, residents face not only the immediate perils of the floodwaters but also the long-term challenges of living in areas prone to soil erosion. Critical infrastructure, including water treatment facilities and major thoroughfares, have been severely impacted, hindering rescue efforts and exacerbating the already dire living conditions in this stricken city. Further compounding the crisis, the N’djili River, a tributary to the Congo, has overflowed, trapping numerous inhabitants. The river, heavily contaminated with fecal matter and other pollutants, underscores the lack of sufficient sewage management and urban planning in the city. While the government has announced plans to address these issues, the sudden onset of the floods has exposed the vulnerabilities of Kinshasa’s infrastructure, highlighting the need for urgent and effective solutions to mitigate the effects of such natural disasters.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr782rgn8x4o