Severe flooding has devastated the capital city of Kinshasa, claiming at least 33 lives as of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, according to local authorities. The disaster unfolded after days of torrential rain caused the Ndjili River to burst its banks, submerging homes, roads, and critical infrastructure across more than half of the city’s 26 districts.
Authorities have mobilized a crisis management unit, including the armed forces and emergency teams, to evacuate survivors and provide aid. However, many residents have criticized the government’s response as too slow, pointing to longstanding issues of poor urban planning and inadequate infrastructure. Kinshasa’s vulnerability to flooding has been a recurring problem, with similar events in 2022 killing over 100 people and displacing thousands.
The Congolese president has warned that the climate crisis is worsening such disasters, a sentiment echoed by local experts who attribute the flooding’s severity to both extreme weather and unchecked urban development along the riverbanks. With more rain forecast in the coming weeks, officials are bracing for a prolonged recovery effort.
