Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have opened an investigation after a fire tore through a wedding celebration in Kinshasa, killing at least 22 people according to the provisional count announced by the mayor of Lingwala. The blaze began on Friday night, 4 September, and continued into the early hours of Saturday in an event hall near the national museum in the northern part of the capital.
The number should still be treated as provisional. Lingwala mayor Norbert Mushiga Nzindula said at least 22 people had died and several others were injured, while a provincial-government statement cited by Radio Okapi initially referred to a lower preliminary count. Different figures in the first hours of a mass-casualty incident can reflect incomplete hospital and recovery records; the responsible authorities have not yet issued a final consolidated toll.
Survivors and officials described a sudden rush toward a restricted way out as smoke and fire spread. The mayor said the venue’s layout and narrow passage made evacuation difficult and criticised the apparent absence or inaccessibility of basic safety measures. Those observations form part of the inquiry; they do not yet establish the fire’s origin or assign criminal responsibility.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani visited the site with provincial officials. His ministry said technical and scientific police were working to determine the nature and source of the blaze. Shabani also urged operators of event venues in Kinshasa and other provinces to comply with fire, occupancy and emergency-exit standards.
The immediate priority is a verified casualty list, treatment for injured guests and clear information for families. Authorities also need to preserve the scene, review permits and occupancy records, examine electrical systems and decorations, and establish whether exits, alarms and extinguishers were present and usable. Witness accounts can guide that work, but an official finding should come from evidence rather than online video or speculation.
The tragedy raises a wider urban-safety question for a fast-growing city where event halls, churches, markets and homes often operate in dense buildings with limited emergency access. Venue inspections matter only when standards are public, enforcement is consistent and owners know that blocked exits or overcrowding will bring consequences before—not after—a disaster.
For the public, the safest description remains limited: at least 22 people were reported dead, others were injured, the toll may change and the cause is under investigation. Claims that a specific electrical device, decoration or person started the fire remain unconfirmed unless investigators publish evidence.
The people who died were attending a celebration, not a spectacle. Responsible coverage should avoid circulating graphic images, respect the privacy of families and keep the focus on verified facts, support for survivors and the safety reforms required to prevent another crowded room from becoming a trap.
