A wedding party fire in Kinshasa leaves at least 22 dead, officials say

A fire at a wedding party in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, left at least 22 people dead and several injured, according to the regional mayor. The fire broke out on Friday night and continued into early Saturday in a building located in Lingwala, a northern district of Kinshasa. The narrow hallways of the building were filled with people attempting to flee the flames, resulting in several individuals being laid out by the roadside while others tried to aid the survivors.

The mayor of Lingwala, Norbert Mushinga, informed the Congolese Press Agency that the initial death toll stood at 22, with the possibility of an increase. The exact cause of the fire remains unconfirmed. Congo's deputy prime minister and interior minister, Jacquemin Shabani, visited the site on Saturday morning to assess the situation.

Deadly fires are not uncommon in densely populated areas of Kinshasa, where urban development often lacks essential provisions such as fire services. Fires have been a recurring issue during the dry season, with several occurring throughout the year, as reported by local media.