Floods hit the capital of DR Congo

Photo:Depositphotos

Kinshasa is home to 17 million people and sits on one of the world's largest rivers, the Congo. The river's water level has recently risen to its highest level in 60 years. The country's president has warned in recent years that the climate crisis is making flooding worse, and this has come true. Parts of Kinshasa are prone to soil erosion and many houses have been swept away.

Flooding has affected nearly half of Kinshasa's 26 districts, and the mayor said search teams have been sent to look for missing people. The city's outskirts and some of its poorest neighborhoods have been hit hardest by the floods.

The water level in the city has reached a height of one and a half meters, trapping thousands of residents in their homes. Many residents have also lost their water supplies, as the city's water treatment pumps have also been flooded. The busiest road in the city, which connects the center with the airport, has become completely impassable. The highway connecting Kinshasa with the port of Matadi also remains impassable.

At least one of the tributaries of the Congo River has overflowed its banks, trapping many residents. The N'djili River is one of the most polluted rivers and contains a large amount of waste. Sewage treatment is still poor in many parts of the city. While the government has announced a solution to this long-standing problem, there is little evidence of urban planning.

Meteorologists are warning that more heavy rains will hit the Democratic Republic of Congo in the coming weeks. Heavy rainfall will hit both Kinshasa and the eastern city of Goma. More rain is also likely to fall in the north and northeast of the country.

Source:BBC