At least 109 people died in the torrential rains that flooded last Thursday and Friday in the town of Kasaba, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a local civil society leader confirmed on Saturday.

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The village, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in the territory of Fizi in South Kivu province, was hit by heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds that caused the Kasaba River to overflow.

According to South Kivu province government the provisional death toll is 62 confirmed, an unknown number of people missing, 150 houses destroyed or swept away, 30 people injured, including children and women, and numerous agricultural fields devastated.

South Kivu government also informed that many agricultural fields have been destroyed, threatening the livelihoods of families who have suffered a significant loss of property, in addition to the interruption of school activities in the disaster area.

“The provincial government remains concerned about the high risk of water-borne diseases, respiratory infections and malnutrition, especially during this period of persistent rains; as the majority of those affected are currently living in precarious conditions, Homeless, with no access to clean water or medical assistance,” the provincial authorities stated.

The authorities also confirmed that an emergency assessment team has already been sent to the disaster site through the provincial Ministry of Health and Humanitarian Action, after requesting a large-scale humanitarian response from the competent national authorities.

South Kivu officials also invited all humanitarian organizations operating in the province to intervene urgently in the affected area, and health services to prepare for a possible health crisis.

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