A child has died in Kinshasa due to severe flooding caused by heavy rains, officials reported Sunday.
On Saturday, rivers, canals, and sewers overflowed, flooding roads in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital.
The floods mainly affected the industrial district of Kinshasa, the largest city in the central African country.
Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba described the damage as “marginal compared to the devastation expected according to weather forecasts.”
He shared this information in a video posted on social media.
However, he confirmed that a two-year-old child had died near the Kalamu River.
The governor emphasized the importance of proper waste disposal to prevent future flooding.
Bumba urged residents “not to throw rubbish” into waterways, saying it increased the risk of flooding.
In Kinshasa, a city of 17 million people, piles of rubbish and clogged rivers filled with plastic waste are common.
The governor acknowledged climate change as a contributing factor but stressed the importance of local precautions.
“It is true climate change exists, but if we take precautions, we can avoid serious damage,” Bumba stated.
Flooding in Kinshasa often results in fatalities. In November 2019, a disaster claimed around 40 lives.
Bumba noted that even advanced cities experience flooding, but the response is what matters.
“Flooding occurs even in the most advanced cities, but it’s how you deal with it that’s the decisive factor,” Bumba concluded.
