At least 22 people have died after a fire tore through a wedding reception in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, during the night of Friday 4 September into the early hours of Saturday.
The blaze broke out at the Panacée reception hall in Lingwala, northern Kinshasa, while guests were celebrating. Several others were injured and taken to hospitals across the city, according to the local authorities.
Norbert Mushinga, mayor of Lingwala, said the provisional death toll stood at 22 but warned that it could rise. The building, located near the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was extensively damaged by the fire.
Witnesses described a chaotic attempt to escape as thick smoke and flames filled the venue. People were seen placing injured guests and bodies by the roadside while others tried to help those still alive.
Local reports said the hall had a single, narrow exit, making it difficult for the crowd to leave quickly. Panic and poor visibility caused by the smoke further hampered the evacuation, although the circumstances remain under investigation.
The cause of the fire has not been confirmed. Authorities have opened an inquiry into how it started and whether conditions at the venue contributed to the loss of life.
Jacquemin Shabani, the deputy prime minister and interior minister, visited the scene on Saturday morning and described the incident as “a tragedy”.
Deadly fires are common in densely populated parts of Kinshasa, particularly during the dry season, where emergency and fire safety services are often limited.
