DRC: Over 400 people confirmed dead, 5000 missing in flooding, landslide

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – At least 422 people are now confirmed dead, and 5,000 are missing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following an overwhelming combination of devastating floods and a severe landslide, the Watchers reports.

Impacting an estimated 20,000 people, the natural disasters were set off by heavy rainfall from May 2 to 4 across the Kalehe Territory in South-Kivu Province (eastern DRC), the Watchers reports.

In addition to the loss of life, 1,200 houses were completely destroyed, and around 1,800 suffered flood damage, the Watchers reports. Moreover, three primary schools and one secondary school were taken over by flood waters.

While the country was still reeling from the flooding disaster, on May 8 a landslide in the Songambele locality near Rubaya City in Masisi Territory, North Kivu Province descended on 100 people who remained trapped under the debris, the Watchers said.

“Humanitarian partners are actively participating in the emergency response to aid those affected by these disasters,” the Watchers said in its report. “However, the situation remains critical as moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast for the two affected provinces over the next 24 hours, which may exacerbate the already dire situation.”

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