Fatshimetrie, October 13, 2024 – The torrential rain that fell on Kinshasa left its tragic mark in Limete, in the heart of the Congolese capital. Two lives lost, swept away by the fury of the elements on the night of Saturday to Sunday. A dramatic event that, unfortunately, bears witness to the vulnerability of our cities to the whims of nature.
Isaac Mukendi, deputy mayor of Limete, recounts a heartbreaking scene: a tree uprooted on the 12th residential street, a billboard smashed in the Isam district on the truck route, and two people trapped, their fate shattered by the destructive force of the storm. The grieving families, helpless witnesses to this tragedy, had to face the unspeakable pain of loss.
This tragedy, an isolated event but with devastating consequences, raises the question of natural disaster management. The torrential rains, a dreaded but inevitable phenomenon, highlight the urgent need for enhanced prevention and adequate adaptation measures. The effects of these storms are also being felt in the neighboring commune of Ngiri-Ngiri, where floods have caused disruption.
The risks of erosion loom over several vulnerable entities such as Mont-Ngafula, Kisenso, Selembao and Lemba, the latter home to the University of Kinshasa (Unikin). Local authorities, alerted by these worrying signals, must act quickly to strengthen the resilience of infrastructure and ensure the safety of populations.
In these moments of mourning and consternation, let us express our solidarity with the bereaved families and remember, with gravity, the fragility of our existence in the face of the indomitable forces of nature. May these tragedies serve as a warning, not only to improve our capacity to respond to emergencies, but also to encourage us to build together a more resilient and united future.