SW News: At least 100 people have died in floods and landslides as torrential rain battered Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Tuesday.

The downpouring ripped the houses and roads, notably the N1 highway that connects Kinshasa to the main seaport of Matadi. The N1 may be blocked for three to four days, revealed a statement from the prime minister's office.

Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde visited the devastated region amid the ongoing rescue process. A crucial supply route and major roadways were shut off, in the heart of Kinshasa, a city of around 15 million people, were swamped for hours.

Jean-Jacques Mbungani Mbanda, the health minister, stated that 141 people had been reportedly deceased, but the figure needs to be verified with other agencies.

The victims said they had never witnessed such severe flooding in the country. Citing various local officials, news agencies reported that nearly 12 million people live in the 24 neighborhoods of Kinshasa, which were also affected by the flood.

According to State Television, the government has declared three days of national mourning. With a population of almost 15 million, Kinshasa, formerly a fishing hamlet on the banks of the Congo River, has developed into one of Africa's most significant megacities. Many houses are built in flood-prone zones, and they get easily flooded with heavy rain due to a lack of a proper drainage system.

The city has become more susceptible to flash floods during heavy rains, which have become more common due to climate change due to poorly regulated rapid urbanization. Earlier in 2019, at least 40 were killed in a similar flood.