At least 22 people have died after a fire broke out at a wedding party in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with guests reportedly killed as they tried to escape through the building's narrow corridors. The blaze began on Friday and burned into the early hours of Saturday in the Lingwala district, prompting a visit from the country's deputy prime minister, who called it "a tragedy." The disaster highlights the fire risks posed by densely populated urban areas that lack adequate safety infrastructure, an issue local officials say is worsened during Congo's dry season.

The fire spread across two floors of the venue, gutting the interior and leaving only burnt tables, chairs and decorations behind; the exterior was also badly scorched. Norbert Mushinga, mayor of Lingwala, said the provisional death toll of 22 could still rise, while injured survivors were taken to hospitals in the surrounding area. The exact cause has not been confirmed, though officials suspect an electrical fault or the wedding decorations may have been to blame. Congolese media report that several similar fires have occurred in Kinshasa this year.