More than 100 people are feared dead following severe flooding in the village of Kasaba, located near Lake Tanganyika in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a local official.
The disaster struck during a particularly volatile time for the region. Since the beginning of the year, the eastern DRC has seen intensified violence from Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, with thousands already killed in the conflict. However, the flooded area of Kasaba remains under government control and has not been seized by rebel forces.
Samy Kalodji, the administrator of Fizi territory in South Kivu province, reported on Saturday that preliminary information from the flood zone indicates the death toll has surpassed 100. A separate statement by Didier Luganywa, spokesperson for the South Kivu government, confirmed 62 fatalities and 30 injuries so far.
The flooding occurred between Thursday night and Friday, triggered by torrential rains and powerful winds that caused the Kasaba River to overflow. Due to its remote location—only reachable by Lake Tanganyika and lacking cell phone coverage—rescue operations and aid delivery may face significant delays.
