Landslide kills 10, including children, in eastern Congo

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - At least 10 people were killed, the majority children, and three others injured after a landslide triggered by heavy rains hit eastern Congo, a civil society group said Saturday.

The landslide in Kalehe territory in South Kivu province followed heavy rains overnight Friday, Delphin Birimbi, president of the Kalehe civil society group told reporters.

Reports said eight children were among the dead.

Birimbi said several houses were swept away and 31 others damaged.

Noting that the death toll was provisional, Birimbi said the torrential rains also destroyed food plantations.

She appealed for rapid intervention by authorities and humanitarian organizations to reduce damage to the area.

Kalehe has regularly experienced disasters due to climate change causing significant property damage and loss of lives, according to residents.

At least 12 people were reportedly killed in April after a ravine collapsed onto a river because of heavy rain in southwest Congo.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said last week that flooding has affected 55,000 people in eastern Ituri province due to rising water levels on Lake Albert.