About 33 people have been found dead after floods hit the Congolese capital Kinshasa, the country’s Interior Ministry said early on Monday.

In a post on X, the ministry said the victims were killed after flooding brought on by heavy rains caused widespread damage, washing away houses and leaving others underwater.

The Ndjili River, which flows through Kinshasa, also reportedly burst its banks on Saturday night.

The death toll could still rise, with almost 50 people in hospital and rescue services attempting to reach areas cut off by the floods.

The water supply was interrupted in some areas of Kinshasa, a city of some 17 million inhabitants.

The city’s governor, Daniel Lubaki, said the death toll was partly a result of failures in construction, with low-quality buildings erected without planning permission too close to the river.

The ministry said those left homeless by the floods are being housed in a stadium.

Several neighbourhoods were still underwater on Monday, but there were signs that the floodwaters were receding, with the road to the Kinshasa airport reopening.

(dpa/NAN)