At least 22 people died and several others were injured in a fire that broke out Friday night at a wedding party in Lingwala, northern Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The blaze started in a building hosting the event and continued into early Saturday morning [1, 4, 5].
The narrow hallways of the venue caused congestion as guests tried to escape, increasing difficulties amid widespread panic. Norbert Mushinga, mayor of Lingwala, said, "People faced difficulties reaching the emergency exit; everyone was in a state of panic" [5]. Many victims, both injured and deceased, were laid on the roadside as bystanders tried to help those still alive [1, 4].
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani visited the site Saturday morning and confirmed the death toll. He called the incident "a tragedy" [1]. Mushinga said: "After inspecting the place, I can confirm that the provisional death toll stands at 22" [3]. Property inside the venue was destroyed, and injured people were taken to health facilities for treatment [5].
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire. Officials suspect an electrical fault but have not confirmed it yet [3, 5]. Following the disaster, Interior Minister Shabani ordered inspections of public event venues and the closure of any failing to meet safety standards [3, 5].
Deadly fires are common in Kinshasa due to inadequate urban planning and limited fire safety services, especially in densely populated areas [1, 4].
