At least 22 people killed in fire at party venue in Congo capital

At least 22 people were killed and several others were injured after a fire broke out overnight at a party venue inside a university compound in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the mayor of Kinshasa told local media.

The fire broke out during a get-together at the venue, but authorities had not immediately given details on the cause of the blaze or how many people were injured.

Emergency responders were called to the scene as the fire spread through the premises, local reports said. Their efforts were focused on rescuing people and treating those hurt.

The names of those killed were not immediately released. It was also unclear whether all the victims were students or whether the event had been open to non-university people.

Authorities were expected to investigate the circumstances of the fire, including safety measures at the venue, whether it had enough emergency exits and firefighting equipment.

Deadly fires are a frequent hazard in parts of Congo, where emergency response and safety infrastructure is often lacking.

The mayor of Kinshasa told local media of the latest death toll. Further information about the victims, the number of injured, and the fire’s cause was not immediately available.