Landslide tragedy hits Congo, 9 dead and many more missing
CONGO-Tragedy struck in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday as a devastating landslide triggered by torrential rains swept away entire families, claiming the lives of at least nine people, including seven children from one family.
The disaster occurred in Kabulu village, South Kivu province where heavy rainfall caused a massive landslide that destroyed several homes late Friday.
“I lost my wife and all seven of my children in the landslide,” said a grief-stricken resident whose identity was not disclosed.
Territorial administrator Thomas Bakenga confirmed the deaths, saying, “One resident lost his entire family, his wife and seven children.Another child was killed elsewhere.”
Bakenga warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continued searching for missing people.
A local civil society group led by Delphin Birimbi, president of the Kalehe civil society reported that the landslide destroyed seven homes and damaged 31 others, resulting in at least 10 fatalities.
Climate experts attribute the devastating impact of the landslide to Congo’s poor urban planning and weak infrastructure which they say exacerbate the effects of extreme weather events fueled by rising temperatures.
This tragedy echoes similar incidents in the country’s recent past including the 2020 landslide in North Kivu that claimed 30 lives and the 2019 floods in Uvira, South Kivu which killed over 40 people.
