Floods Kill Over 100 People in Eastern DR Congo After Kasaba River Overflows

More than 100 people have been confirmed dead after severe floods hit the village of Kasaba in South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The disaster reportedly occurred overnight between Thursday and Friday after heavy rains caused the Kasaba River to overflow. According to local authorities, the raging waters swept through the village, carrying mud, large stones, and uprooted trees. Dozens of houses near the lake were flattened.

Officials say the majority of the victims are children and the elderly. At least 28 people were injured, and more than 150 homes were destroyed. The final death toll is still uncertain, with some reports indicating as many as 119 bodies recovered as of Saturday.

Local administrator Samy Kalonji said the floods caused significant material damage and devastated an already vulnerable area. South Kivu government spokesperson Didier Luganywa confirmed that strong winds and intense rainfall triggered the river to burst its banks.

As Al Jazeera reports, access to Kasaba has been difficult. The area can only be reached by water via Lake Tanganyika and is not covered by mobile phone networks, further delaying emergency response. The provincial health minister, Theophile Walulika Muzaliwa, said only the Red Cross is active on the ground while local officials coordinate efforts.

Flooding is a recurring threat in eastern DR Congo. The recent tragedy unfolds amid ongoing armed conflict in the east region. Fighting between Congolese troops and the M23 rebel group, reportedly backed by Rwanda, escalated earlier this year. The rebel forces seized control of Goma, the capital of neighbouring North Kivu, in a surprise offensive that left nearly 3,000 people dead and close to 3,000 others injured.

The floods hit hard, with over seven million people displaced by conflict. Local and international agencies are calling for urgent assistance to support victims and prevent further loss of life.

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