Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Republic say more than 300 people have been as the River Congo has risen to its highest level in more than 60 years, causing flooding throughout both countries.
Poor urban planning and weak infrastructure have made some African countries vulnerable to flash floods after intense rains, which have become more frequent due to climate change.
On Wednesday, the river reached 6.20 meters above sea level, just shy of the 1961 record of 6.26 metres following exceptionally high rains inland.
Several neighbourhoods in DRC’s densely populated Kinshasa have flooded, as well as communities in more than a dozen provinces.
The country’s Social Affairs says nearly 300 people have died and 300,000 households have been affected, with tens of thousands of houses destroyed.
In neighbouring Congo Republic, whose capital Brazzaville also sits on the banks across the river, at least 17 people have died in floods across eight departments including the capital, with more than 60,000 households affected.
Editor Oloyede Oworu
