Torrential rains and floods have killed at least 33 people in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with many more trapped or displaced.
The city, home to 17 million people, is prone to flooding due to its location on the Congo River, which recently reached its highest level in six decades.
Parts of the city are also susceptible to soil erosion, and President Felix Tshisekedi has warned that the climate crisis is exacerbating the issue.
Many homes in western Kinshasa were swept away by floodwaters, with about half of the city’s 26 districts affected.
Residents are struggling to cope with the disaster, with some accusing authorities of being slow to react and not providing enough help.
The floods have also caused water shortages, with water treatment pumps inundated, and have made major roads impassable, including the city’s busiest road and the motorway connecting Kinshasa to the main port of Matadi.
