Eastern DRC: Mettelsat warns of torrential rains and landslides in December

Mettelsat forecasts an exceptionally intense El Niño, expected to peak in December 2026, and warns of major hazards in eastern DRC. At a crisis briefing in Kinshasa on October 21, meteorological experts and the Civil Protection service said rainfall could exceed seasonal averages by 30 to 40 percent. The Semliki and Rusizi rivers may overflow, while hillsides in Goma and Bukavu could slide. Civil Protection has mapped more than 450 vulnerable sites and is calling for preventive evacuations.