Deadly floods in South Kivu: hundreds dead and missing
Tragic floods have hit South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are more than 400 dead and many missing. Several localities were affected, including the territory of Kalehe. The rain fell for several days, causing landslides and floods that claimed many lives. Red Cross teams, made up of 120 first-aiders, are deployed to help the populations.
The situation is dramatic and the rescuers are overwhelmed. The volunteers work tirelessly from morning to night, but the number of victims is so high that it is difficult to cope. The conditions are precarious: the rescuers lack equipment and often have to work with their bare hands. Traditional tools such as pickaxes and spades are used, but they are insufficient to carry out rescues from the rubble.
The government mentioned a death toll of 401, but it would only be provisional. Many people are still missing, and the number of victims is therefore likely to increase. Hundreds of families are affected and must deal with the immense pain of the loss of a loved one.
The floods also disrupted school exams, postponing the end of the school year. The urgency of the situation has made it difficult for students to concentrate, who also have to deal with trauma and fear of future bad weather.
This disaster is proof of the climate emergency and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Floods are increasingly frequent and catastrophic, causing considerable human and material losses. It is therefore urgent to take action to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the planet