At least 22 killed in wedding party fire in Congo’s Kinshasa

A fire at a wedding reception in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, has resulted in at least 22 deaths and several injuries, according to the regional mayor. The blaze began on Friday night and persisted into early Saturday in a building located in Lingwala, a northern district of the capital city. Upon arriving at the scene on Saturday morning, Congo's deputy prime minister and interior minister, Jacquemin Shabani, described the incident as a "tragedy."

The mayor of Lingwala, Norbert Mushinga, stated that the provisional death toll stands at 22, though he acknowledged that the figure could increase. The exact cause of the fire remains unconfirmed. Reports indicate that the incident has occurred amidst a backdrop of densely populated areas in Kinshasa, where urban development often lacks essential infrastructure such as fire services.