DRC: Floods kill at least 52 people in South Kivu Province April 23 /update 2

Event

Flooding due to heavy rain in South Kivu Province has caused at least 52 fatalities between Friday, April 17, and Thursday, April 23. According to media sources, the Mulongwe and Kavimvira rivers have overflown entire neighborhoods in Uvira, leaving 36 people dead while an additional 16 deaths have been confirmed in the city's outskirts. According to the UN, more than 77,000 people have been displaced in eastern DRC as a result of the rains, ongoing in the regions since early April.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, anticipate transportation disruptions, avoid areas directly affected by flooding, confirm road conditions before setting out, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities. Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult.