Flood in DR Congo kills nearly 200, submerges buildings

Nearly 200 people have been killed in flash floods in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Théo Kasi, South Kivu governor, said heavy rains had fallen in the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi and caused rivers to overflow on Thursday.

Kasi pegged the death toll at 176 on Friday and said others were still missing. However, Reuters reports that Kasole Martin, a local civil society member, said 227 bodies had been found.

“People are sleeping out in the open, schools and hospitals have been swept away,” Martin was quoted to have said.

Robert Masamba, a doctor, said injured survivors had been streaming in since Thursday evening.

“My team and I have not slept. We have received 56 patients, 80 percent of which have fractures,” he said.

President Félix Tshisekedi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in a tweet.

“The Head of State, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi presents his sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the torrential rains, which caused devastating damage, from May 3 to 4, 2023, in Bushushu and Minova, in the Territory of Kalehe (South Kivu ),” he said.

#RDC 05.05.2023|#Kinshasa
Le Chef de l’État, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi présente ses sincères condoléances aux familles des victimes des pluies diluviennes, qui ont causé des dégâts dévastateurs, du 03 au 04 mai 2023, à Bushushu et Minova, dans le Territoire de Kalehe (Sud-Kivu).

— Présidence RDC 🇨🇩 (@Presidence_RDC) May 5, 2023

Heavy rainfall and floods are not uncommon in the country.

Last year, at least 100 people were killed after flooding ravaged parts of Kinshasa, the DRC capital.

Data obtained from FloodList, an environmental publication, showed that over 682 people have been killed and thousands left homeless by a combination of flooding, mudslide and cyclone in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, the DRC, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, and Uganda.

Experts warn that Africa could face increased food insecurity and an unprecedented rural-urban migration crisis if flooding persists.