At least 50 killed in Congo floods

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - At least 50 people were killed in the Congo by landslides and floods triggered by heavy rains which pounded the national capital of Kinshasa, the city’s police said Tuesday.

“Heavy rains started on Monday night until early Tuesday in the capital, Kinshasa, causing floods and landslides which caused serious human and material damage. The death toll so far stands at 50 people,” Police Chief Sylvano Kasongo told Anadolu Agency, indicating that the toll could climb.

In the Selembao commune, 12 people were killed and 20 injured after their houses collapsed, while in the Matadi-Kibala locality, a provisional toll stood at 10 deaths, he said.

Homes and roads remain flooded and degraded, he said.

The main road linking the capital to Kongo-Central was cut off.

Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, who led a government team to assess the damage, said the exact death toll would be established after a comprehensive assessment.

“Some people are still buried in the rubble, so it is difficult to establish the exact toll until a final assessment,” Mayor Alidor Tshibanda of the Mont-Ngafula commune, where four people were reported dead, told reporters.​​​​​​​