Around 30 people have died in flooding in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa as torrential rains over the weekend destroyed homes and roads, IPN reports.

"The death toll is provisional, but so far there are around thirty dead," provincial Health Minister Patricien Gongo Abakazi told Reuters.

The Ndjili River, which runs through part of the city of around 17 million, overflowed its banks on Friday night, blocking the main national road and leaving drivers stranded. A number of quarters remained without power and water.

Kinshasa mayor Daniel Bumba Lubaki assured that the water supply will be restored shortly, but pointed to illegal housing as the cause for some of the deaths. Therefore, the inhabitants of unplanned settlements will be evicted.

Congolese hydrologist Raphael Tshimanga Muamba said the river that passes through Kinshasa was affected by human activity over time: "The rivers are in a bad state and their size can no longer cope with flooding," said the expert.

Photo source: The Associated Press