At least 22 people died after a fire broke out at a wedding party in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fire began on Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday in the Lingwala district.
Guests were trapped and perished while attempting to flee the building through narrow corridors. Attendees carried the injured and deceased to the roadside while others tried to assist survivors. The scorched exterior of the two-story building, which was also heavily damaged by the blaze, was visible in images of the aftermath. The interior was gutted, with only burnt furnishings and decorations remaining.
Norbert Mushinga, the mayor of Lingwala, stated that the provisional death toll was 22, but cautioned that it might increase. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, though officials are considering electrical issues or decorations as potential factors. Injured partygoers were transported to local hospitals, according to Mushinga.
Congo's deputy prime minister and interior minister, Jacquemin Shabani, visited the site on September 5 and described the event as a "tragedy."
Fires are reportedly common in densely populated areas of Kinshasa, particularly where urban development lacks adequate safety provisions, such as fire services. The dry season is noted to increase the likelihood of fires, and several have occurred this year, according to Congolese media reports.