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🇨🇩 DR Congo /Disasters & Emergencies

After Kinshasa Wedding Fire, Jacquemain Shabani Orders Systematic Safety Checks of Event Venues

From Radio Okapi · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Deputy Prime Minister Jacquemain Shabani ordered provincial governors in the Democratic Republic of Congo to inspect event halls and other public venues without delay.
  • Authorities were instructed to close venues that fail to meet safety standards, while Kinshasa must submit its inspection report within 15 days.
  • The order follows a fatal fire at a wedding in Kinshasa, where officials gave conflicting death tolls of 22 and 12.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has ordered an immediate safety inspection of event halls and other venues hosting public gatherings after a deadly fire at a wedding in Kinshasa.

In a telegram dated Saturday, Sept. 5, Deputy Prime Minister for the Interior Jacquemain Shabani instructed all provincial governors to carry out “systematic inspections” without delay. Governors were also ordered to immediately close any establishment that does not meet safety standards.

Kinshasa has been given 15 days to submit its inspection report, in light of the consequences of what the authorities described as the recent disaster.

The fire broke out overnight from Friday, Sept. 4, to Saturday, Sept. 5, during a wedding celebration at an event hall near the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the Lingwala municipality. The venue was completely burned out and sustained extensive material damage.

The reported death toll remains disputed. Lingwala Mayor Norbert Mutshiga Zihindula said a provisional assessment made Saturday morning recorded 22 deaths and many injured people, who were receiving emergency care at health facilities. A government statement issued the same day put the toll at 12, including seven women and five men. It said five people remained hospitalized, while 21 others had been stabilized and released for outpatient follow-up within 48 hours.

systematic inspections of event halls and other venues hosting public gatherings

· Jacquemain ShabaniThe deputy prime minister for the interior ordered provincial governors to inspect public event venues.
About this summary

Originally published by Radio Okapi in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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