“We remind our population that it is strictly forbidden to build in areas where construction is banned,” Governor Bumba declared following an emergency meeting held with Vice Prime Minister Shabani Lukoo and other authorities. “We have lost too many lives simply because people refuse to follow the rules. If we follow the standards, if we abide by the regulations, we can avoid such disasters and calamities.”
The governor’s remarks reflect growing frustration among city officials as Kinshasa, a city of over 15 million people, continues to suffer from recurring floods—many of which are worsened by poor urban planning, clogged drainage systems, and unregulated construction on vulnerable land.
In his statement, Governor Bumba also sought to calm the growing public anxiety, acknowledging the scale of the crisis while reaffirming the government’s commitment to relief and recovery efforts.
“We ask the population to remain calm. These are indeed natural disasters,” he said. “But the Government of the Republic, along with all present institutions and the City of Kinshasa, stands by your side. In the coming hours, efforts will be made to help you return to acceptable living conditions.”
Emergency response teams have been deployed to assess the damage, rescue those affected, and provide temporary shelter and supplies. The government is also expected to launch investigations into illegal constructions in high-risk zones and take further steps to prevent such tragedies in the future.
This latest disaster highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement of urban development laws and greater investment in infrastructure to protect Kinshasa’s growing population from the increasingly severe impacts of climate change.
