At least 22 people have been killed after a devastating fire broke out during a wedding celebration in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, turning a joyful occasion into a deadly tragedy.
The blaze erupted overnight on Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday in a building located in the Lingwala district of northern Kinshasa. Several others were injured in the incident and were taken for medical treatment as emergency responders worked to contain the fire and assess the damage.
Lingwala Mayor Norbert Mushinga confirmed that the provisional death toll stands at 22, warning that the number of casualties could rise as authorities continue their investigation and search efforts.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Officials have launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Congo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani visited the scene on Saturday morning and described the event as a tragedy.
The disaster has once again highlighted the risks posed by inadequate urban infrastructure in some densely populated areas of Kinshasa. Deadly fires have become a recurring problem in parts of the city where rapid population growth and urban expansion have not been matched by sufficient safety measures, including access to emergency fire services and modern building protections.
As authorities continue to investigate the cause of the blaze, families and communities across Kinshasa are mourning the lives lost in one of the city’s latest deadly fire incidents.
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