Deadly fire during a wedding in Kinshasa: twelve dead
Quick Look
- Twelve people died in a fire during a wedding in Kinshasa, in the Lingwala district, on Friday evening.
- The fire spread quickly in a building with insufficient safety standards, causing a fatal stampede on a narrow staircase.
- The government has announced a systematic control of places open to the public and the immediate closure of non-compliant establishments.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Kinshasa, capital of the DRC with more than 17 million inhabitants, regularly suffers from fires linked to defective or fraudulent electrical installations. Rescue resources are very limited despite government declarations aimed at strengthening firefighters.
It’s a shock in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). And the human toll of a fire at a wedding shows the scale of the tragedy.
Twelve people died in this tragedy which occurred during the night from Friday to Saturday, the government announced on Sunday. Identification operations are still underway, according to the Ministry of Communication.
The crowd trapped
Friday evening in Lingwala, a residential district in the north of Kinshasa, several dozen people in evening wear gathered to celebrate a wedding. A fire quickly spread, creating panic.
The origin of the fire has not yet been determined but local authorities noted on Saturday, during a visit to the scene of the fire, that “the standards are not respected”, in particular “the emergency exit”. Videos shared on social networks show a crowd gathered in a narrow staircase trying to reach the exit of the building and escape the flames.
A lack of emergency resources
The government announced on Sunday a “systematic control” of places set up to host public events and “ordered the immediate closure” of establishments that do not meet standards.
Our articles on the DRC
Defective or fraudulent electrical installations are often the cause of fires in Kinshasa. The megalopolis of more than 17 million inhabitants also has very limited emergency resources. In recent years, the government has affirmed its desire to strengthen the fire brigade, without significant improvement so far.
Open Questions
- What is the precise origin of the fire?
- How many people are injured or missing?
- What concrete measures will be taken to improve the security of buildings in Kinshasa?
