At least 22 people were killed and several others were injured in a fire that broke out during a wedding celebration in the capital of the People’sDemocratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa. Authorities warn that the death toll may rise.

The fire broke out on Friday evening and continued into the early hours of Saturday morning in a building in the Linguala neighborhood, in the northern part of Kinshasa, where a wedding reception was taking place.

At least 22 people have been confirmed dead, with the death toll possibly rising, after a fire broke out at a wedding venue in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said. pic.twitter.com/hscnpsji62

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 6, 2026

According to local authorities, the building’s narrow hallways significantly hampered attendees’ efforts to evacuate, resulting in several people becoming trapped as they tried to escape.

Trapped in the building’s narrow spaces

Eyewitnesses reported that after the fire was extinguished, several people—both alive and dead— were carried out and placed at the side of the road, while bystanders tried to help the survivors.

#DRC #Kinshasa #Fire #Wedding #BanquetHall #ProtestantChurch #NationalMuseum|

The party was in full swing… then the fire broke out. Watch the first few seconds of the fire

. A video taken in the middle of the ceremony shows the moment the fire breaks out in the banquet hall. The… pic.twitter.com/9Sh3khZX0c

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The mayor of Linguala, Norber Musinga, told the Congolese News Agency that the preliminary death toll stands at 22, though he expressed fears that the number could rise.

The exact causes of the fire are not yet known.

“It’s a tragedy,” said Congo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Zakemen Shabani, who visited the scene on Saturday morning.

Deadly Fires Are Common in Kinshasa

Deadly fires are a common occurrence in the densely populated areas of Kinshasa, where rapid urban development often takes place without the necessary safety infrastructure, such as organized fire departments.

The problem becomes more acute during the dry season, and according to local media, several major fires have already occurred this year.

Authorities are expected to investigate the causes of the fire, while efforts to fully account for the victims continue.

Source: PROTO THEMA