More than 100 dead after flooding in eastern DR Congo village of Kasaba, official says
Local officials said the Kasaba area was only accessible via Lake Tanganyika and was not covered by the mobile phone network, which could delay humanitarian relief efforts.
More than 100 people have died after flooding in a village near the shores of Lake Tanganyika in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a local official said.
The flooding, which affected the village of Kasaba, comes at a vulnerable moment for the Central African nation.
More To Read
- Somalia secures release of more than 50 nationals held in DRC
- Kenya, Ethiopia, DRC lead East Africa’s stunning export surge amid global economic uncertainty
- There’s a new outbreak of Ebola in Africa. Here’s what you need to know
- Rwanda and DRC renew commitment to peace pact
- Congolese army appeals to captured troops to uphold duty, loyalty
- Massive trenches are swallowing homes across the DRC
M23 rebels have intensified an offensive in the eastern region of DR Congo since the start of the year, with thousands killed in fighting in the first two months of the year.
Samy Kalodji, administrator of Fizi territory in South Kivu province where the village is located, said late on Saturday that reports from the area "indicated more than 100 deaths".
The affected area is still under the administration of Kinshasa and is not among the zones taken by M23.
Didier Luganywa, spokesperson for the South Kivu government, said in a statement that the flooding incident occurred between Thursday night and Friday, when torrential rains and strong winds caused the River Kasaba to overflow its banks.
The statement gave a toll of 62 confirmed deaths with 30 injured.
Local officials said the Kasaba area was only accessible via Lake Tanganyika and was not covered by the mobile phone network, which could delay humanitarian relief efforts.
Top Stories Today
