Congo: Nearly 200 people killed in flash floods in eastern DRC

International

6-05-2023, 22:44

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INA - SOURCES

At least 176 people have died in flash floods in an eastern territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a regional governor said, as heavy rain destroyed buildings and forced aid workers to gather mud-clad corpses into piles.

The rainfall in Kalehe territory in South Kivu province caused rivers to overflow on Thursday, inundating the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi.

The South Kivu governor, Théo Ngwabidje Kasi, put the death toll at 176 and said that others were still missing. A local civil society member, Kasole Martin, said 227 bodies had been found.

“People are sleeping out in the open, schools and hospitals have been swept away,” Martin said.