This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people walking through a flooded street in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), April 6, 2025. (Xinhua)

KINSHASA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 people have died following heavy rains and severe flooding in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), local authorities said on Saturday.

Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba said the death toll remains provisional and may rise as search and rescue efforts continue. "We are still carrying out evacuations, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children," Bumba told local media.

With military support, emergency evacuations are underway in several of the worst-affected neighborhoods, including Mont-Amba, Salongo, and Ndanu.

The flooding, which struck overnight from Friday to Saturday, has paralyzed much of the city's infrastructure. Major roads were submerged, causing widespread power and water outages across multiple districts.

The Ministry of Transport reported severe disruption to access routes leading to the N'djili International Airport, prompting the deployment of emergency ferry services to assist stranded travelers.

In the eastern suburb of Debonhomme, floodwaters from the swollen N'djili River engulfed dozens of vehicles. Some residents were seen paddling canoes or swimming through the inundated streets.

Meteorological forecasts predict continued heavy rainfall in the coming days, raising fears of further destruction in the city of 17 million, already vulnerable due to rapid and unregulated urban expansion.

The DRC's rainy season typically runs from November through May. ■

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows buildings submerged in a flooded area in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), April 6, 2025. (Xinhua)