Fire has once again ravaged an establishment in Kinshasa, this time affecting the lounge bar “Platinium” located on the second floor of the building housing “Kin Marché”. The fire, which occurred on Tuesday, caused significant damage, prompting a rapid intervention by the Congolese capital’s firefighters.
Jean Claude Djepelayi Bamba Mukishi, head of the Kinshasa fire response team, described a “really serious” situation when they arrived on the scene. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the firefighters acted effectively to control the fire and limit the damage. The cause of this disaster remains unknown for the time being and will be the subject of in-depth investigations.
Kin Marché’s resource manager, Mbuta Kikwata, stressed that the fire broke out early in the morning and was contained before affecting the entire building. This is a relief for the establishment, although the material losses remain to be assessed.
This incident is part of a series of significant events that have struck the city of Kinshasa in recent days, including the bus fire in the warehouse of the public establishment Transco. Cyprien Mbere Moba, General Manager of Transco, mentioned an accident that occurred during the sale of used buses, stressing that no new buses had been affected.
These events clearly show the need to strengthen fire prevention and safety measures in establishments open to the public. The responsiveness of the authorities and emergency services has prevented human tragedies, but calls into question the importance of vigilance in the face of such risks.
At the beginning of October, Kinshasa was the scene of various emergency situations, thus recalling the fragility of infrastructure in the face of scourges such as fires. Learning from these events is essential to strengthen the city’s resilience and ensure the safety of its residents.