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KINSHASA, Dec. 14 (AP) — The death toll from widespread flooding and landslides in the Congolese capital Kinshasa has climbed to more than 140, the government said Wednesday.
At least a dozen others remain missing, but the government is not optimistic that anyone is alive.
“There is no hope of finding survivors,” Health Minister Lisa Nembalemba told The Associated Press by phone.
The government has declared three days of mourning starting Wednesday.
Heavy rain on Monday night triggered flooding and landslides in 24 neighborhoods in Kinshasa, where some 12 million people live. The damage flooded nearly 40,000 homes and flattened nearly 300, local authorities said.
Speaking in the United States, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, who is attending a U.S.-Africa summit, said he was saddened to hear of the loss and called on authorities to speed up the recovery process. “(It’s up to) the central and provincial governments to speed up stormwater drainage efforts to avoid such disasters,” he said. He directed the government to help grieving families.
In addition to people losing their lives and homes, the rains also wreaked havoc across the city. At least one main road to the capital was cut off and much of the city remains submerged.
Some residents in Kinshasa said they were not surprised by the flooding and deaths, citing poor living conditions in the areas.
“It has become increasingly urgent that the city authorities pay serious attention to major construction in the city in order to minimize the severity of such natural disasters,” said Kinshasa Catholic Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo.( Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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