Landslides kill 12 people in Congo - report

Landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed at least 12 people in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed at least 12 people in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A family of five was killed when a house was swept away in Mashango village in the Muvunyi-Karuba region on the night of December 26th and a family of seven died when their home was destroyed on the night of December 29th, rebel-controlled RTNC radio reported.

Witnesses said the disaster was caused by a month of heavy rain in the hilly area which is controlled by the Rwandan-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy group fighting to topple the government in Kinshasa.

There was no independent confirmation of the deaths.