Severe Flooding in Eastern Congo Leaves 62 Dead and 50 Missing

Heavy flooding in eastern Congo has killed at least 62 people and left 50 missing, with rescue efforts hindered. Minister Theophile Walulika Muzaliwa reported that conditions are challenging, and infrastructure across the area remains compromised due to recent conflict and severe weather.

Devastating floods in eastern Congo have left at least 62 people confirmed dead, with 50 more reported missing, as of Saturday. The floods struck around 5 a.m. local time on Friday, primarily impacting villages near Lake Tanganyika in the South Kivu province, according to local officials. Witnesses noted that heavy rains prompted the flooding, which swept away homes and disrupted communications in the area.

Health Minister Theophile Walulika Muzaliwa from South Kivu shared with Arab News via phone that the ongoing search and rescue operations are facing significant challenges. He emphasized, “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.”

This flooding incident adds to a series of tragic events in the region; just weeks prior, heavy rains in Kinshasa resulted in 33 deaths. The infrastructure throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo has been battered by severe weather conditions in recent months. The humanitarian response is being further strained due to ongoing conflict between government forces and armed factions in the region.

Since February, escalated fighting has intensified what the United Nations has labelled as one of the world’s most dire humanitarian crises. Given the region’s instability, the situation following the floods raises further concerns about the safety and well-being of the local population, now grappling with both natural disasters and armed conflict.

In summary, the floods in eastern Congo have resulted in a tragic loss of life and property, with search and rescue operations hampered by challenging conditions. Minister Muzaliwa highlighted ongoing difficulties in providing aid while the region continues to struggle with armed conflict. This situation exemplifies the severe humanitarian crisis that remains prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Original Source: www.aa.com.tr