By iNewsAfrica Reporter | May 11, 2025
South Kivu, DR Congo – Catastrophe struck the Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province after torrential rains unleashed deadly floods that have claimed the lives of over 100 people, with scores still missing and feared buried under debris.
The flooding, which overwhelmed the Kasaba River near the lakeside village of Kasaba, swept away homes, livestock, and infrastructure, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Local officials described the devastation as one of the deadliest in recent memory, with children and the elderly among the hardest hit.
Rescue efforts have been severely hampered by destroyed roads and collapsed bridges, forcing emergency responders and volunteers to navigate the area by boat and on foot. The Red Cross has mobilized to lead search and recovery operations, though many fear the death toll could rise significantly as more bodies are recovered.
“The situation is heartbreaking. Entire families have been lost. Many areas are still inaccessible,” said Jean Mutuza, a local disaster response coordinator speaking from South Kivu.
Humanitarian agencies have called for urgent international support to provide food, shelter, and medical supplies to the displaced survivors. Access to some of the hardest-hit communities remains a major challenge, with several villages cut off from mobile networks and reachable only via Lake Tanganyika.
This disaster adds to the mounting humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo, a region already burdened by armed conflict, mass displacement, and poverty. Experts warn that without significant investment in infrastructure and climate resilience, the region remains vulnerable to repeated disasters.
As the nation mourns yet another tragedy, calls are growing for the government and international community to prioritize disaster preparedness and climate adaptation strategies to prevent future loss of life.
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