Many parts of Congo reeling under heavy rains and floods; 72 dead, 170 injured

In Congo, heavy rains and flooding have struck several provinces, with the capital Kinshasa among the hardest hit. 11 health zones in Kinshasa have been impacted, with more than 5,000 people displaced. At least 72 people have died, and 170 have been injured due to torrential rains and resulting floods. Tanganyika and South Kivu provinces, in the eastern part of the country, have also reported significant damage. Emergency shelters and care centers have been established in Kinshasa’s stadiums. Continued heavy rainfall has been forecast for the coming days, raising fears of further destruction in the city of 17 million, already vulnerable due to rapid and unregulated urban expansion.