At least 22 killed in Kinshasa wedding fire as cause remains unclear

At least 22 people were killed and several others injured when a fire broke out during a wedding celebration in a reception building in Kinshasa’s Lingwala commune, officials said. The blaze began Friday night and continued into early Saturday, while narrow hallways hampered attendees trying to escape. The provisional death toll could rise, and injured people were taken to hospitals across the city. Authorities have not determined the cause but are investigating possibilities including electrical faults and venue decorations. Officials said the tragedy highlights the dangers of fires in Kinshasa’s densely populated neighborhoods, where development often outpaces fire-protection services.