At least 22 people have died following a devastating fire at a wedding venue in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Local officials reported that the blaze broke out near the front of the hall and rapidly swept through the structure, causing immediate panic among guests. Tragic scenes unfolded at the scene as several attendees were crushed in a stampede while attempting to flee through the venue’s single accessible exit.
Inspecting the site, local Mayor Norbert Nzindula confirmed that safety regulations had been breached, noting that attendees were unable to reach emergency exits safely. Nzindula stated that local and provincial authorities in Kinshasa will take swift action to enforce stricter safety protocols across all public function venues to prevent future tragedies.
–ChannelAfrica–
