BUKAVU, Congo — Severe floods have devastated parts of eastern Congo following heavy rainfall, causing the destruction of multiple villages along the shores of Lake Tanganyika. This tragic event has resulted in at least 62 fatalities, with 50 individuals still unaccounted for, according to local authorities.
The deluge struck suddenly at approximately 5 a.m. on Friday, sweeping the village of Kasaba along with other communities in the Ngandja sector, according to those who witnessed the floodwaters surge through the area.
Efforts to conduct rescue operations have faced significant challenges. Théophile Walulika Muzaliwa, the health minister for the province of South Kivu, reported by phone that the situation was exacerbated by limited resources and an interruption of telephone communications due to the flooding.
Currently, local leaders, including sector chiefs, village heads, and locality chiefs, are on-site addressing the disaster. The Red Cross is notably the sole humanitarian organization present at the scene, working to assist the affected populations. Muzaliwa emphasized that ongoing body recovery operations have hindered the ability to provide a comprehensive assessment of the casualties and damage.
This catastrophe follows another devastating flood last month in the nation’s capital, Kinshasa, which claimed 33 lives. Adding to the complexity of the situation in eastern Congo, a long-standing conflict between government forces and rebel groups has escalated since February. This turmoil contributes to what many consider one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally.