Heavy rainfall in the Kalehe region of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) triggered landslides and caused rivers to break their banks, inundating the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi. The death toll from the floods and landslides has risen to nearly 400, according to local officials. The United Nations’ humanitarian agency has confirmed at least 270 deaths so far, with more than 300 people still unaccounted for, while around 3,000 families have lost their homes. Congo climate activist Josue Aruna criticised the government for failing to consider environmental issues a priority and for a lack of response plans. Poor urban planning and weak infrastructure also make the DRC more vulnerable to such events. The UN’s climate experts have said that warming temperatures due to climate change are increasing the intensity and frequency of Africa’s rains, increasing the destruction wrought by floods and landslides that were already common in South Kivu.
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