A wedding reception in Kinshasa ended in tragedy with at least 22 deaths and multiple injuries after a fire swept through a party hall.
At least 22 people died and several others were injured in a fire that broke out during a wedding ceremony in Kinshasa on the night of September 4-5, 2026. The event took place in a reception hall near the National Museum of the DRC, in the Lingwala commune. The hall was completely gutted, with significant material damage.
According to Norbert Mutshiga Zihindula, the mayor of Lingwala, the provisional death toll reported on Saturday morning was 22, with numerous injured individuals receiving emergency care. Witnesses and the mayor indicated that the evacuation was hampered by the hall's layout, specifically a single, narrow exit. Smoke and flames also obstructed escape routes, leading to people being trampled in the panic.
An investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances and origin of the fire. The Vice Prime Minister of the Interior, Jacquemain Shabani, and the Vice Governor of Kinshasa, Eddy Iyeli Molangi, both visited the scene on Saturday morning to assess the situation.
Why it mattersThe fire at the wedding hall in Kinshasa directly affected attendees and their families, causing loss of life and injuries due to the blaze and subsequent panic.
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