KIGALI (Rwanda): At least 10 people, the majority of them children, were killed, and three others injured after a landslide triggered by heavy rains struck eastern Congo, a civil society group said Saturday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the landslide in Kalehe territory in South Kivu province followed heavy rains overnight on Friday, Delphin Birimbi, president of the Kalehe civil society group, told reporters.
Reports indicated that eight children were among the dead.
Birimbi said several houses were swept away, and 31 others were damaged.
She noted that the death toll was provisional and added that the torrential rains also destroyed food plantations.
She appealed for rapid intervention by authorities and humanitarian organisations to reduce damage to the area.
Kalehe has regularly experienced disasters due to climate change causing significant property damage and loss of lives, according to residents.
At least 12 people were reportedly killed in April when a ravine collapsed onto a river due to heavy rain in southwest Congo.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported last week that flooding has affected 55,000 people in eastern Ituri province because of rising water levels on Lake Albert. – BERNAMA-AA
