DRC: Flooding in North Kivu September 20

Event

Torrential rains in Bihambwe, North Kivu province, prompted flooding that left at least ten people dead and another 92 people missing on Wednesday, September 20. Reports say the heavy rains caused a river to overflow its banks. Officials have dispatched teams to the area to search for the missing. Further rain is forecast for the region in the coming days.

Context

Democratic Republic of the Congo’s rainy season normally takes place from November through March; however, heavy rains do occur in other months. Flooding is largely the result of insufficient infrastructure, e.g. sewers and drainage systems, unable to cope with sudden increases in water levels. The risk of typhoid fever, cholera, dengue fever, and malaria is higher than normal during times of heavy precipitation.

Advice

Individuals present in areas affected by heavy rains are advised to follow all instructions as issued by local authorities and to monitor the situation via local media and weather reporting outlets. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.

More generally, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country for various security reasons.