A wedding party fire in Kinshasa leaves at least 22 dead, officials say
Officials said the provisional death toll is 22 and could rise as investigators said the cause remains unconfirmed.
- At least 22 people died in a fire at a wedding party in Lingwala, Kinshasa, Congo, on Saturday, confirmed by Lingwala Mayor Norbert Mushinga to the Congolese Press Agency.
- Deadly blazes are common in Kinshasa's densely populated neighborhoods, where rapid urban development frequently lacks essential fire services and emergency infrastructure.
- The fire began overnight Friday and continued into early Saturday morning, trapping guests in narrow hallways; survivors placed injured attendees by the roadside awaiting help.
- Congo's Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani visited the site Saturday, stating, "It is a tragedy," as the immediate response unfolded.
- Authorities warned the death toll may increase, noting that several fires have occurred this year during the dry season in Kinshasa's vulnerable neighborhoods.
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123 Articles
At least 22 people have been killed and several others injured in a fire at a wedding venue in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a local official in Congo said on Sunday.
Wedding party fire in Kinshasa leaves at least 22 dead
A fire at a wedding party in Congo ‘s capital Kinshasa left at least 22 people dead, the regional mayor said Saturday. Several others were injured. The fire started Friday night and continued into early Saturday in a building in Lingwala in northern Kinshasa. The building’s narrow hallways were constricted by people trying to escape the fire. Several people – some alive and some dead – were laid by the roadside as attendees tried to help those w…
Wedding Party Fire in Congo’s Capital Kinshasa Leaves at Least 22 Dead
Tablescapes are covered in ash and debris in the aftermath of a fire that broke out in a building hosting a wedding party in Lingwala, Congo, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (Guylain Kipoke/AP Photo)
Fire breaks out in building in Linguala neighborhood – Fears that death toll will rise
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