https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230508/death-toll-in-dr-congo-floods-reportedly-nears-400-1059111867.html
Death Toll in DR Congo Floods Reportedly Nears 400
Death Toll in DR Congo Floods Reportedly Nears 400
Sputnik Africa
Devastating floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in South Kivu killed at least 394 people, media has reported citing the country's official.
2023-05-08T11:05+0200
2023-05-08T11:05+0200
2023-05-08T11:05+0200
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Devastating floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in South Kivu have killed at least 394 people, media has reported citing the country's official. On Thursday, heavy rainfall in the Kalehe region of South Kivu triggered landslides that engulfed the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi. According to Thomas Bakenga, administrator of Kalehe territory, at least 394 bodies have been recovered so far. He stated that 142 bodies were found in Bushushu village, 132 in Nyamukubi, and tat120 had been detected floating on Lake Kivu. Bakenga said that several villages in the region were submerged, many houses were swept away, and fields were devastated, as the rivers had run over their banks following torrential rains.It was also noted that the provincial government provided humanitarian assistance, sending a boat to the flood-affected areas filled with food (beans, flour), tarpaulins and medicine. Following the floods, which left hundreds dead and many more injured, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it had sent an emergency team to the area on Saturday to support local authorities.On May 6, the country's government announced that a day of national mourning will be observed on Monday, with flags lowered "at half mast in memory of the compatriots who died in the floods."The government's spokesman, Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya stated that a central government mission was deployed in South Kivu to support the provincial authorities "in the management of this disaster."In neighboring Rwanda, at least 131 people were killed and 94 others injured due to flooding and landslides last week. More than 9,000 people have been displaced in different provinces in the west, north and south, according to minister for emergency management, Marie-Solange Kayisire.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his condolences to the victims of the floods in Rwanda and the DRC during a high-level summit in Burundi on Saturday.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230507/flooding-in-dr-congo-reportedly-results-in-over-200-dead-1059090747.html
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230507/rwanda-to-allocate-about-100mln-for-recovery-after-devastating-flood-1059102593.html
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central africa, democratic republic of the congo (drc), south kivu province, dr congo, death toll, flash floods and landslides, natural disaster, humanitarian aid, death toll
central africa, democratic republic of the congo (drc), south kivu province, dr congo, death toll, flash floods and landslides, natural disaster, humanitarian aid, death toll
Death Toll in DR Congo Floods Reportedly Nears 400
Last week, torrential rains fell in South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), causing overflow of rivers, which led to landslides, catastrophic flooding in villages and destruction of homes.
Devastating floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in South Kivu have
killed at least 394 people, media has reported citing the country's official.
On Thursday, heavy rainfall in the Kalehe region of South Kivu triggered landslides that engulfed the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi. According to Thomas Bakenga, administrator of Kalehe territory, at least 394 bodies have been recovered so far.
He stated that 142 bodies were found in Bushushu village, 132 in Nyamukubi, and tat120 had been detected floating on Lake Kivu.
"Since Thursday we've been finding bodies every minute and we are burying them," Bakenga is quoted as saying.
Bakenga said that several villages in the region were
submerged, many houses were swept away, and fields were devastated, as the rivers had run over their banks following torrential rains.
It was also noted that the provincial government provided humanitarian assistance, sending a boat to the flood-affected areas filled with food (beans, flour), tarpaulins and medicine.
Following the floods, which left hundreds dead and many more injured, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it had sent an emergency team to the area on Saturday to support local authorities.
"The situation is very difficult. There was massive destruction of houses and fields, as well as the loss of many cattle. The population urgently needs shelter, basic necessities and food," said Sebastien Loth, head of the humanitarian organization's mission in South Kivu.
On May 6, the country's government announced that a day of national mourning will be
observed on Monday, with flags lowered "at half mast in memory of the compatriots who died in the floods."
The government's spokesman, Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya stated that a central government mission was deployed in South Kivu to support the provincial authorities "in the management of this disaster."
In neighboring
Rwanda, at least 131 people were killed and 94 others injured due to flooding and landslides last week. More than 9,000 people have been displaced in different provinces in the west, north and south, according to minister for emergency management, Marie-Solange Kayisire.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his condolences to the victims of the floods in Rwanda and the DRC during a high-level summit in Burundi on Saturday.
"This is yet another illustration of accelerating climate change and its disastrous impact on countries that have done nothing to contribute to global warming," he said.
