Over 160 people have reportedly died in severe flooding that has hit the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The flooding, which occurred following an all-night downpour on Tuesday, has caused major roads in the city to be submerged and a key supply route to the port of Matadi to collapse.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 169 people have died, around 30 have been injured, and at least 280 houses have been destroyed as a result of the flooding.
The DRC has declared a three-day period of national mourning following severe flooding in the capital city of Kinshasa, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 160 people.
The flooding occurred after an all-night downpour on Tuesday, causing major roads in the city to be submerged and a key supply route to the port of Matadi to collapse.
The hardest hit areas were the Mont-Ngafula and Ngaliema districts in the west of the city, affecting around 38,000 people.
Kinshasa, located on the Congo River, has seen a significant increase in population in recent years, with many living in shanty houses on flood-prone slopes. The city also lacks adequate drainage and sewerage systems, which have contributed to the severity of the flooding.
