RT.com
15 Jan 2026, 15:50 GMT+10
Heavy rainfall triggered the catastrophe in Burutsi, destroying homes and leaving families trapped and displaced
At least 28 people were killed after a landslide struck a remote village in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), local outlet Actualite reported on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning in the village of Burutsi, located in the Walikale territory of North Kivu, after several hours of intense rainfall. A hillside gave way, sending mud and debris into the settlement and burying numerous houses.
Descarte Akilimali, the sector chief of Burutsi, told AP that "nature acted terribly, and the entire hillside collapsed into the village of Burutsi while... people were asleep."
Search and recovery operations continued until Thursday, with local residents joining efforts to locate victims trapped beneath the rubble. Many families were left without shelter and have since been temporarily accommodated in nearby schools.
Local officials said they appealed to the central government for assistance after the landslide, but the closure of the road between Goma and Walikale has significantly hampered the government's ability to respond.
Walikale remains unstable following last year's takeover by M23 rebels and ongoing violence in the area.
An administrative official told the outlet that the death toll reached 19 by Wednesday, noting that one injured person later died after being transferred to the hospital. Subsequent reports put the total number of fatalities at 28, with local media saying five victims remain unidentified. Officials confirmed that 17 houses were engulfed by mud during the collapse.
Landslides are a recurring threat in eastern DR Congo, particularly in the mountainous provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where prolonged heavy rains, deforestation, and informal housing increase vulnerability.
In recent years, dozens of people have been killed in similar incidents across the region. In November 2024, at least ten people, including children, were killed when heavy rains triggered a landslide in Kalehe territory in South Kivu province, damaging dozens of homes.
READ MORE: Dozens killed in DR Congo mine bridge collapse - authorities (VIDEO)
In May 2023, flash floods and landslides around Lake Kivu claimed more than 390 lives, one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country's recent history.
Get a daily dose of Zimbabwe Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Zimbabwe Star.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: A rare copy of the first Superman comic book, which was also once stolen from the home of actor Nicolas Cage,...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump has sharply intensified his standoff with the Federal Reserve, with the Justice Department...
HELSINKI, Finland: The severe cold forced cancelations of flights at Kittilä airport, leaving thousands of tourists in northern Finland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Norwegian Nobel Institute has dashed any hope that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado would give...
MOUNT ETNA, Italy: Guides in Sicily's Mount Etna are upset with the local authorities over tougher restrictions imposed by them after...
BISHOFTU, Ethiopia: Ethiopia has kicked off construction of a vast new airport near its capital, a project officials say will transform...
BISHOFTU, Ethiopia: Ethiopia has kicked off construction of a vast new airport near its capital, a project officials say will transform...
NAIROBI/JERUSALEM: Somalia denounced a trip by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Somaliland on January 6, 10 days after Israel...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 15 (ANI): Foreign portfolio investors from the United States and several European countries have...
Heavy rainfall triggered the catastrophe in Burutsi, destroying homes and leaving families trapped and displaced At least 28 people...
Heavy rainfall triggered the catastrophe in Burutsi, destroying homes and leaving families trapped and displaced ...
New Delhi [India], January 15 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday called for a 'collective responsibility' among Commonwealth...
