Video: DRC Governor Walks Through Flooded Streets, Finds Infant While Visiting Affected Families
- Severe floods washed away several villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing more than 100 people amid ongoing conflict and displacement
- Tanganyika governor Christian Kitungwa personally discovered a baby trapped in a collapsed structure, earning widespread praise for his hands-on approach to leadership
- Kitungwa called on the central government and international partners to urgently support flood-hit communities, warning of worsening conditions in Kalemie and surrounding areas
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Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Severe overnight floods have devastated parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, washing away several villages and claiming the lives of more than 100 people, according to local authorities.
Source: Twitter
The disaster struck amid ongoing conflict and mass displacement in the affected areas of the country.
What did Kitungwa do during his visit to Kalemie flood victims?
Amid the devastation, Tanganyika province governor Christian Kitungwa made a powerful statement of leadership by wading through flooded communities to offer assistance and assess the damage firsthand.
Donning rain-soaked clothes and muddy boots, Kitungwa walked alongside local officials through thigh-deep waters in one of the worst-hit riverside towns, Kalemie.
In a moment that deeply moved both residents and responders, Kitungwa discovered a baby who was trapped inside a collapsed structure.
However, TUKO.co.ke could not independently confirm the claim from residents that the child had died.
Without hesitation, he reached in and through the help of his aides, carried the child to safety, earning praise from tearful villagers who hailed him as a rare and compassionate leader.
"He is doing a very good job. We are so happy that tears are falling from our eyes. Others wouldn’t even dare step into this mud. Let this young man serve the nation; may God bless him greatly. We love him and want him to continue with this spirit. He should not leave Kalemie. We have never had a leader like him — he went, found a body, and carried it back himself," said the residents, full of joy.
What did Christian Kalemie say after visiting flood victims?
Speaking after the visit, Kitungwa expressed his government’s solidarity with the victims and emphasised the urgent need for a coordinated emergency response.
Source: Twitter
“The provincial government will fully assume its responsibilities,” he stated
Further, Kitungwa urged immediate support from the central government, humanitarian organisations, and international partners.
"I am so sorry for what you are going through. Given the scale of the disaster, I solemnly appeal to the central government: Tanganyika needs your help immediately. I also call on our international partners and NGOs, as well as men and women of goodwill, to mobilise and save the population," he added.
The city of Kalemie and surrounding districts remain under threat as the rains continue to fall, worsening the humanitarian crisis in Tanganyika.
Over 280 families displaced as floods wreak havoc in Homa Bay
Meanwhile in Kenya, the Kenya Red Cross Society conducted evacuations in Simbi Kogembo and Osodo in Rachuonyo North after heavy rainfall caused Lake Victoria’s backflow and the River Kibuon bursting its banks.
A total of 1,428 households were affected, with 287 families currently sheltering at Osodo Primary School and Simbi Kogembo Dispensary.
As moderate to heavy rains persist, the risk of further flooding remains high in West Kenya, with counties such as Kisumu, Migori, Busia, Siaya, and Kakamega particularly at risk.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
