Ten killed in Bukavu floods

At least 10 people were killed and some 300 houses were destroyed due to flooding in Bukavu on Friday, humanitarian sources have said. Heavy rains caused flood waters to rush through the Kadutu area of the city, carrying away people, houses and vehicles into Lake Kivu, Claude Jibidal, UN humanitarian coordinator for South Kivu, told IRIN on Wednesday. “About 10 people are for the moment estimated to have drowned in the lake, but the exact number of deaths is not yet known,” he said. The city’s non-functioning drainage system, poor sanitation conditions and the uncontrolled construction of shelters on Kadutu’s steep hills had exacerbated the impact of the floods, he said. “It’s a tragedy because everyone could see the problem coming,” he added.