Severe flooding has claimed at least 33 lives in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, according to official reports.
President Fรฉlix Tshisekedi addressed victims on Monday, pledging support and announcing a government crisis meeting. “The republic will not abandon you,” he assured affected residents.
Citizens are attempting to escape rising waters by wading, swimming, or using makeshift canoes. The metropolis of 17 million sits along the massive Congo River, which recently reached its highest level in 60 years.
Flooding is a recurring issue in Kinshasa, with the president previously warning that climate change is exacerbating the situation. Soil erosion also contributes to the city’s vulnerability.
Following overnight flooding from Friday into Saturday, many homes in western Kinshasa were destroyed. The mayor reports that approximately half of the city’s 26 districts have been affected, with rescue teams deployed to assist residents.
The city’s outskirts and poorest neighborhoods have suffered the most severe damage. Christophe Bola, a resident of the Ndanu area, told AFP: “The water has reached 1.5 metres high. We have just managed to save ourselves, the rest is trapped in our homes.”
Local residents have expressed frustration with authorities, criticizing what they perceive as a delayed and inadequate response to the disaster.
Beyond the immediate flooding dangers, Kinshasa faces widespread water shortages after treatment pumps were submerged. Transportation infrastructure has been severely impacted, with the main road connecting downtown to the international airport now impassable. Additionally, sections of the highway linking the capital to Matadi, the country’s primary port, are unusable.
The N’djili River, a Congo River tributary known for pollution and high levels of waste, has overflowed according to Deputy President Jacquemain Shabani’s Sunday statement, trapping numerous residents.
Poor sewage maintenance and limited urban planning contribute to Kinshasa’s vulnerability. The government announced plans last year to address these longstanding issues.
Weather forecasts predict additional heavy rainfall for Kinshasa in coming weeks, as well as for Goma, the eastern city recently captured by rebel forces. The national meteorological agency has also issued warnings for intense precipitation in the country’s northern and northeastern regions.
About the author
Irish Government Finally Unlocks Secret Files On Omagh Bombing
The Irish Government and Omagh Bombing Inquiry have established a formal agreement to allow investigators access to information held by the Irish State about the 1998 bombing that killed 29 people. A Memorandum of Understanding outlines arrangements for information sharing, with the Department of Justice creating a central contact point to handle all information requests. Further discussions will address additional cooperation, including whether witnesses from the Republic of Ireland will testify. Families of victims have demanded full disclosure of relevant intelligence from the Irish Government regarding the bombing, which occurred as dissident republicans attempted to derail the peace process following the Good Friday Agreement. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan described the agreement as "an important step forward" that serves "the best interests of the victims' families and survivors." He noted that his department is already managing information requests and engaging with […]
Trump Threatens Harvard Tax Status After University Defies Federal Demands
President Donald Trump has escalated his confrontation with Harvard University, suggesting the institution should lose its tax-exempt status just hours after his administration froze over $2 billion in federal funding to the school. The White House has demanded Harvard implement significant changes to its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices, ostensibly to combat antisemitism on campus. Since returning to office, Trump has targeted elite universities by threatening to withhold federal research funds unless they comply with his administration's requirements. Harvard became the first major US university to reject these demands on Monday, with university officials accusing the White House of attempting to "control" their community. Trump responded Tuesday morning on Truth Social, targeting Harvard's valuable tax exemption: "Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting […]
Prison Gunfire Attacks Signal Drug Lords Fighting Back Against Government
Vehicles were set ablaze outside multiple French prisons and one facility was hit by automatic weapon gunfire during a series of overnight attacks across the country. Justice Minister Gรฉrald Darmanin described the incidents as "intimidation attempts" and connected them to the government's intensifying efforts against drug trafficking operations. According to Le Parisien newspaper, seven prison facilities were targeted in the coordinated attacks: three in southern France (Toulon, Aix-En-Provence, and Marseille), two more in the south (Valence and Nรฎmes), and two near Paris (Villepinte and Nanterre). France's national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the incidents. Darmanin announced on social media platform X that he was traveling to support affected officers at Toulon prison, which suffered gunfire damage. While not directly assigning blame, he stated that the government was "facing up to the problem of drug trafficking" with measures […]
McIlroy Finally Claims Masters Title In Dramatic Playoff Against Rose
Rory McIlroy captured the elusive Masters title by defeating Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff, completing golf's prestigious career Grand Slam after a dramatic final round at Augusta National. Following a costly missed 5-foot par putt on the 18th hole that forced the playoff, McIlroy delivered under pressure by placing his approach shot just 2 feet from the cup when they returned to the same hole. As the winning putt dropped, McIlroy raised his arms skyward before dropping to his knees in an emotional release, his putter falling behind him. Amid chants of "Rory! Rory!" from the gallery, McIlroy embraced his wife Erica and daughter Poppy before heading to Butler Cabin for the Green Jacket ceremony. "There was a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on that 18th green," McIlroy said during the presentation. "A moment like that […]
20 Years Of Success Yet EU Recycling Rules Punish Electronics Repair
The CEO of WEEE Ireland, the national compliance scheme for e-waste recycling, has criticized European recycling targets for failing to recognize the actual impact of the circular economy. Leo Donovan explained that Ireland's ability to meet the EU's 65% recycling target is becoming increasingly difficult each yearโnot due to failure, but because the targets don't account for the extended lifespan of modern electronics or the growing emphasis on repair and reuse. "The EU's current linear weight-based targets do not consider the extended lifespans of modern electronics or the growing emphasis on repair and reuse, meaning Ireland's true environmental progress goes unrecognised," Donovan stated. He pointed out that repaired or refurbished mobile phones don't count toward Ireland's official environmental performance, despite keeping raw materials in circulation. Similarly, newer appliances like solar PV panels and heat pumps, which typically last 15-20 years, […]
Secret Spy Alliance Or Maritime Safety Net Ireland Joins EU Surveillance Network
Ireland is joining a European maritime intelligence-sharing alliance to enhance its surveillance capabilities in EU waters. Tรกnaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris has authorized the Defence Forces to formally join the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), a voluntary, decentralized network for sharing maritime surveillance information among EU and EEA countries and agencies. CISE enables various authorities, including coast guards, naval services, and customs, to exchange data securely in real time. Military and civil agencies from ten other European nations, including Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Norway, and Portugal, are already members of this recently operational alliance. The European Commission oversees the process while encouraging all EU countries to participate. Importantly, participants maintain control over their data and decide what information to share. Each member connects through a CISE "node" serving as a secure gateway for information exchange. Ireland's node will be […]
Related
McIlroy’s 2025 Season: What Could Surpass His Masters Triumph?
Even after the incredible drama of his career Grand Slam-completing Masters victory, Rory McIlroy's 2025 golf season still holds numerous possibilities that could potentially match that memorable achievement. McIlroy is scheduled to return to competition next week in New Orleans, where he and close friend Shane Lowry will defend their Zurich Classic title, an event that doesn't award world ranking points. The Northern Irishman's Augusta triumph significantly reduced Scottie Scheffler's world rankings lead from 4.18 to 2.81 points, though the world number one still maintains a comfortable advantage. The duo has established a considerable gap ahead of third-ranked Xander Schauffele, the reigning Open and US PGA champion, who trails McIlroy by 3.76 points. With McIlroy skipping this week's RBC Heritage in South Carolina, Scheffler, who finished just three strokes behind in fourth place at Augusta despite not being in serious […]
Parent Arrested After Bringing Firearm to Elementary School and Sending Threatening Messages to Teacher
An Indiana mother faces charges after allegedly bringing a gun to her daughter's elementary school and sending threatening messages to the sixth-grade teacher following a disagreement over a classroom assignment. Carrie Rivers, 48, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm on school property and harassment related to an incident at Valley Mills Elementary School in Indianapolis. According to the arrest affidavit, Rivers confronted her daughter's teacher about "a work assignment that had to do with same-sex relationships." When Decatur Township School Police officers responded to a call about an "irate parent," they noticed Rivers had what appeared to be a firearm on her waistband. Officer Tabetha Emenaker stated in the affidavit that upon removing the weapon, "Carrie Rivers stated that she did have a gun." The officer informed Rivers that having a firearm on school grounds was illegal, […]
Irish Government Finally Unlocks Secret Files On Omagh Bombing
The Irish Government and Omagh Bombing Inquiry have established a formal agreement to allow investigators access to information held by the Irish State about the 1998 bombing that killed 29 people. A Memorandum of Understanding outlines arrangements for information sharing, with the Department of Justice creating a central contact point to handle all information requests. Further discussions will address additional cooperation, including whether witnesses from the Republic of Ireland will testify. Families of victims have demanded full disclosure of relevant intelligence from the Irish Government regarding the bombing, which occurred as dissident republicans attempted to derail the peace process following the Good Friday Agreement. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan described the agreement as "an important step forward" that serves "the best interests of the victims' families and survivors." He noted that his department is already managing information requests and engaging with […]
Trump Threatens Harvard Tax Status After University Defies Federal Demands
President Donald Trump has escalated his confrontation with Harvard University, suggesting the institution should lose its tax-exempt status just hours after his administration froze over $2 billion in federal funding to the school. The White House has demanded Harvard implement significant changes to its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices, ostensibly to combat antisemitism on campus. Since returning to office, Trump has targeted elite universities by threatening to withhold federal research funds unless they comply with his administration's requirements. Harvard became the first major US university to reject these demands on Monday, with university officials accusing the White House of attempting to "control" their community. Trump responded Tuesday morning on Truth Social, targeting Harvard's valuable tax exemption: "Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting […]
Prison Gunfire Attacks Signal Drug Lords Fighting Back Against Government
Vehicles were set ablaze outside multiple French prisons and one facility was hit by automatic weapon gunfire during a series of overnight attacks across the country. Justice Minister Gรฉrald Darmanin described the incidents as "intimidation attempts" and connected them to the government's intensifying efforts against drug trafficking operations. According to Le Parisien newspaper, seven prison facilities were targeted in the coordinated attacks: three in southern France (Toulon, Aix-En-Provence, and Marseille), two more in the south (Valence and Nรฎmes), and two near Paris (Villepinte and Nanterre). France's national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the incidents. Darmanin announced on social media platform X that he was traveling to support affected officers at Toulon prison, which suffered gunfire damage. While not directly assigning blame, he stated that the government was "facing up to the problem of drug trafficking" with measures […]
US Congressional Watchdog to Investigate Changes at the SEC
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will examine recent changes at the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those potentially influenced by the White House or Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to a letter sent to Democratic lawmakers. The GAO, Congress's nonpartisan research arm, informed Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mark Warner that it will review the SEC's recent efforts to reduce staff, terminate leases, and consolidate operations, as detailed in an April 8 letter viewed by Reuters. The lawmakers requested the investigation last month following media reports about DOGE's involvement and other significant changes at the market regulator. A. Nicole Clowers, managing director of GAO's congressional relations office, confirmed in the letter that the request "is within the scope of (GAO's) authority" and that work would commence in approximately three months. Since President Donald Trump took office and […]
Be the first to leave a comment