Landslides kill 40 following heavy rains in DR Congo

At least 40 people died in the floods and landslides following heavy rains that hit Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday night.

Local authorities said they found at least 20 people dead in Bukavu and 20 dead bodies in the surrounding village of Burhinyi, according to the provincial Governor’s Office.

Provincial authorities said they gave dispatched rescue teams to the affected areas to search for victims.

Last week, at least 20 people died in a landslide caused by torrential rains in Kalingi village in Mwenga Territory of South Kivu.

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In May 2023, in Kalehe Territory of South Kivu, local authorities found at least 438 bodies in flooded areas due to heavy rains.

Local authorities estimated that more than 5,000 people were missing.

Floods and landslides are common in the DRC during the rainy season, which runs from September to May, and often have devastating impacts. (Xinhua)