Severe Flooding in Eastern Congo Results in Fatalities and Missing Persons

At least 62 people are dead and 50 missing following severe floods in Eastern Congo. The disaster, triggered by rains, affected the village of Kasaba. Officials cite difficulties in rescue efforts, and the situation is worsened by existing armed conflict and humanitarian strains.

In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, severe flooding has resulted in at least 62 confirmed deaths and left 50 individuals missing, according to local officials. The disaster struck early Friday morning, around 5 a.m. local time, primarily affecting the village of Kasaba in the Ngandja sector near Lake Tanganyika. Witnesses describe torrential rains that led to a rapid inundation of homes and infrastructure, disrupting communication lines across the region.

The provincial health minister for South Kivu, Theophile Walulika Muzaliwa, spoke to Arab News, highlighting the challenges faced by rescue teams. He indicated that search and rescue efforts are significantly hampered by the ongoing flood conditions. “Sector chiefs, village chiefs and locality chiefs, who are also members of the local government, are on site. The only humanitarian organization currently present is the Red Cross. It is not possible to give an assessment as body searches are continuing,” Muzaliwa explained.

This latest tragedy follows a previous incident in Kinshasa, where heavy rainfall led to the deaths of 33 people just weeks prior. The infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo has faced considerable stress in recent months, exacerbated by a backdrop of conflict in the region. Since February, clashes between government forces and armed groups have intensified, making humanitarian responses more difficult, and the United Nations has characterized the situation as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

With rescue operations ongoing, the urgency of aid and the condition of the affected communities remains a top priority. Floods like this not only claim lives but also devastate entire communities, adding additional strain to a nation already facing armed conflict and humanitarian challenges.

In summary, the recent floods in Eastern Congo have claimed at least 62 lives, with 50 individuals still unaccounted for. The event has severely disrupted local communities, compounding the existing humanitarian crisis fueled by ongoing conflicts in the region. With rescue efforts ongoing, the need for effective humanitarian response remains critical as the country grapples with both natural and man-made disasters.

Original Source: www.aa.com.tr