Flood Outbreak | More than 200 dead, many missing in Congo floods

Representational Image Kalehe: The death toll in flood-related incidents in eastern Congo has risen to over 200 and many people are still missing. Local officials in South Kivu gave this information. Thomas Bakenge, the administrator of Kalehe, one of the worst affected by the floods, told reporters on Saturday that 203 bodies had been found so far and efforts were on to trace the others. Hundreds of homes were swept away by floodwaters in Yamukubi village, as rescue workers and others dug through the rubble to search for bodies on Saturday. Flood-affected Enorite Jikujuwa said she had lost her entire family, including her parents-in-law. Also many of their neighbors have been killed. He said, “The entire village has turned into a barren land. Everywhere there are only stones and we cannot even tell where our land was. Michake Ntamana, a rescue worker searching for bodies buried in the rubble, said villagers were trying to identify the bodies and were taking their loved ones with them when they found them. Read also South Kivu Governor Tho Ngwabidze visited the area to assess the damage caused by the floods. He tweeted that the provincial government has supplied medical and food supplies for the victims. Several main roads leading to the affected areas have been blocked due to rain and floods, making it difficult to deliver relief materials. President Felix Tshisekadi declared national mourning on Monday in memory of the victims and the central government is sending a disaster management team to South Kivu to help the provincial government. (agency)