Daijiworld Media Network- Kinshasa

Kinshasa, Apr 15: Heavy rains have unleashed widespread devastation across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), claiming at least 72 lives and displacing more than 5,000 people in the capital city of Kinshasa alone, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.

Eleven health zones in Kinshasa have borne the brunt of the flooding, with over 170 people reported injured, Xinhua news agency reported. The downpour, which began days ago, has also wreaked havoc in the eastern provinces of Tanganyika and South Kivu, where authorities are currently assessing the scale of damage and emergency requirements.

Emergency response efforts are underway, with several care and shelter centers established in the capital. The iconic Stade des Martyrs, the nation’s largest stadium, is now sheltering more than 4,500 displaced residents. In response to overcrowding, the government has begun implementing a decongestion strategy to relocate affected families to alternative facilities.

The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to ramping up cross-sector coordination to ensure rapid, targeted responses to both the health and humanitarian challenges emerging from the disaster.

Meteorological forecasts have warned of continued heavy rainfall in the coming days, compounding fears of further destruction in Kinshasa, a city of nearly 17 million that remains highly vulnerable due to its fast-growing but poorly planned urban infrastructure.

The DRC's annual rainy season, typically stretching from November to May, continues to bring recurring natural disasters, underscoring the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure and improved urban planning across the region.