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At least 22 dead in wedding venue fire in Democratic Republic of Congo

A fire at a wedding celebration in Congo's Lingwala district has claimed at least 22 lives. Officials attributed the high death toll to panic among attendees who struggled to reach emergency exits.

LSN Malaysia · 7 September 2026

At least 22 dead in wedding venue fire in Democratic Republic of Congo

A devastating fire erupted at a wedding venue in Lingwala, Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving at least 22 people dead, local authorities confirmed. The incident occurred during celebrations, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of chaos as guests attempted to flee the burning structure. Datuk Bandar Lingwala Norbert Mushinga said the fatality count was exacerbated by confusion and panic among attendees who found it difficult to locate and access emergency exits. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Emergency services responded to the scene, though details on the rescue operation and total number of injured remain limited. Authorities have not yet released a comprehensive account of the incident or identified the victims.