MORE than 100 people, including many children and elderly residents, have died after catastrophic floods swept through the remote village of Kasaba, near the shores of Lake Tanganyika in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), local officials have confirmed.
The disaster struck overnight between Thursday and Friday, when torrential rains caused the Kasaba river to burst its banks, unleashing a torrent that razed homes and left the community in ruins.
Authorities say the death toll is likely to rise as search and rescue operations continue. Local administrator Sammy Kalonji reported at least 104 confirmed fatalities, while some residents involved in recovery efforts said as many as 119 bodies had been found by the weekend. Dozens remain missing, and more than 150 homes were destroyed in the deluge, which struck while most villagers were asleep.
Kasaba’s location on the remote shore of Lake Tanganyika-accessible only by boat and lacking both mobile phone and internet coverage-has severely hampered rescue and relief efforts. The only humanitarian organisation currently present is the Red Cross, and local officials describe the logistical challenges as immense.
South Kivu provincial health minister Théophile Walulika Muzaliwa said that the lack of communications and infrastructure is complicating both the search for survivors and the delivery of aid. Authorities have urgently appealed for national and international assistance to reach the stranded and displaced population.
Officials say the majority of victims are children and the elderly, highlighting the vulnerability of these groups in sudden disasters. The floodwaters carried large stones, trees, and mud, destroying everything in their path and flattening much of the village.
Natural disasters like floods and landslides are frequent in eastern DRC, particularly along the Great Lakes, where deforestation and poor infrastructure have left communities increasingly exposed to extreme weather events. In 2023, similar flooding killed over 400 people in South Kivu, underscoring the region’s chronic vulnerability.
The flood disaster comes as the DRC faces escalating violence in its eastern provinces. Clashes between government forces and M23 rebels-allegedly backed by Rwanda-have killed thousands since the start of the year, further straining the country’s already limited humanitarian resources.
With the death toll still uncertain and many people missing, the immediate priority is to continue search and rescue operations and deliver emergency aid to survivors. However, the region’s isolation and ongoing conflict present major obstacles to a swift humanitarian response.
Officials and aid organisations are calling for urgent international support, not only to address the immediate crisis but also to invest in long-term disaster preparedness and environmental protection to reduce the risk of future tragedies.
As the DRC mourns another deadly disaster, the events in Kasaba highlight the urgent need for improved infrastructure, environmental management, and sustained humanitarian engagement in one of Africa’s most vulnerable regions.
