Wedding celebration turns into mourning in Congo: 22 people killed as a result of a fire (video)

Wedding celebration ends in tragedy in Congo: 22 killed due to fire (video)

In Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a banquet hall where a wedding ceremony was taking place caught fire. At least 22 people lost their lives in this tragedy. Many more were injured.

The incident occurred on September 5 in an event hall in the capital's Lingwala commune. The mayor of the commune, Norbert Mushinga Nzindula, said that the injured were taken to hospitals in the capital.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Officials are investigating several possible causes. Preliminary theories include an electrical system malfunction and the ignition of decorations inside the hall.

It is assumed that the high number of casualties was due to limited exit options from the building. According to the mayor, there was only one exit door in the hall to evacuate guests. Because it was relatively narrow, and moreover, the building was filled with smoke, panicked people were unable to get outside.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo also arrived at the scene. He described the incident as tragic. Fires occur frequently in Kinshasa, especially in the densely populated areas of the city. Officials noted that due to the lack of adequate fire safety infrastructure in the capital, such tragedies lead to even more severe consequences.

The final cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Officials stated that the death toll could rise further.