Deadly floods hit the town of Bukavu, killing 21 people
The town of Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, suffered a devastating tragedy as heavy rains hit the region this week. Mayor Zenon Karumba announced a tragic toll of 21 deaths following these deadly floods.
“The death toll is 21, including 15 here in the morgue of the general reference hospital in Bukavu,” declared Zénon Karumba.
The flood caused considerable damage, engulfing homes and taking lives. After touring the city, the mayor stressed that uncontrolled construction was the main cause of this disaster.
Unfortunately, this type of incident is common in Bukavu during the rainy season. The mayor took the opportunity to appeal to avoid building in inappropriate areas. “To those who still live in these places, I ask them to leave because the rain continues to fall,” he urged.
Bukavu, a mountainous city, also faces erosion problems.
The consequences of these disasters are multiple: roads cut, in particular national road number 2 linking Bukavu to the territories of Walungu, Mwenga and Shabunda, as well as national road number 5 between Bukavu and Uvira. Houses were damaged and much other damage was noted.
This tragedy highlights the importance of raising public awareness of the dangers linked to uncontrolled construction and uncontrolled urbanization. It is necessary to put in place preventive measures to avoid such disasters in the future.
Local authorities will also need to take steps to strengthen the city’s infrastructure to cope with extreme weather conditions.
In this time of mourning and reconstruction, community solidarity is essential to help those affected get back on their feet and rebuild their lives.