TORRENTIAL RAINS DEVASTATE DRC, KINSHASA AMONG WORST HIT

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE

Article Published on: 15TH APR 2025 | www.demodemagazine.com

Severe flooding caused by relentless rains has struck the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with the capital city Kinshasa facing catastrophic damage. Over 72 people have died and 170 have been injured, as more than 5,000 residents were forced to flee their homes across 11 health zones.

Emergency shelters have been set up, including at the Stade des Martyrs, which is currently housing over 4,500 displaced people. Authorities have launched a decongestion plan to relocate residents to additional venues.

In the eastern provinces of Tanganyika and South Kivu, local officials are assessing the scale of destruction and urgent humanitarian needs.

With forecasts predicting continued rainfall, concerns are mounting in Kinshasa—a city of 17 million—already burdened by rapid and unregulated urban growth. The Ministry of Health is ramping up multi-sectoral efforts to deliver swift, coordinated responses to both health and humanitarian crises. The DRC’s rainy season typically lasts from November through May.