Overview

• The death toll from flooding in Kinshasa has risen to 33, with most fatalities caused by collapsing walls during heavy rains that began Friday night.
• The Ndjili River overflowed, submerging roads, homes, and vehicles, cutting off access to key infrastructure, including National Road 1 leading to the airport.
• Hundreds of families have been displaced, with emergency shelters established by the government to provide temporary relief.
• Residents face water shortages and power outages across multiple neighborhoods, while recovery efforts to restore access to roads and water facilities are ongoing.
• Criticism of the government’s delayed response highlights longstanding issues of poor urban planning and inadequate drainage systems in the rapidly growing city of 17 million.