– Catastrophic flooding in Uvira: An alarming situation requiring urgent intervention –
The town of Uvira, located in the South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is facing a critical situation. Since the evening of Wednesday September 27, heavy rains have caused devastating flooding in several areas of the city. The most affected neighborhoods are Kalimabenge and Kasenga/Muramvya, where many homes have been submerged, leaving residents in a situation of distress.
The testimonies of residents of the Kalimabenge river are alarming. The sudden rise in water caused the bridge connecting the Kalimabenge and Kilibula neighborhoods to quickly flood, causing surges in neighboring neighborhoods. Homes found themselves submerged in record time, leaving residents powerless in the face of rising waters.
The situation is not better in the Muramvya district, located on the banks of the Kavimvira river. A small football stadium was completely flooded and many homes were invaded by water. The sight of household goods floating on the waters and buried in mud bears witness to the devastation caused by these floods.
Unfortunately, this natural disaster is not isolated. With the start of the rainy season, the risk of flooding remains high. Residents fear in particular the deadly rise in the Kalimabenge river, which could cause even greater damage.
It should be recalled that the previous year, the town of Uvira had already been hit by deadly floods caused by the overflowing of the Mulongwe River. The consequences were tragic, with the loss of human lives and the displacement of thousands of people.
Faced with this issue, it is essential that preventive measures be taken quickly. Local authorities had already recommended that residents leave risk areas and not build haphazardly on the path of the water. Measures such as cleaning rivers and planting anti-erosion trees along plots have been proposed.
It is essential that the relevant authorities act quickly and put in place concrete measures to prevent such disasters. Investments in drainage infrastructure and public awareness of flood risks are essential to ensure the safety of residents.
In this period when the effects of climate change are being felt more and more intensely, it is important to give priority to prevention and the protection of vulnerable populations. The flooding in Uvira is a tragic reminder of the urgency of action to address these challenges and ensure a safer future for all.