Dozens dead in Kinshasa as torrential rains and landslides pounds DR Congo capital.

At least 41 people have died after torrential overnight rains hit Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa. Some have been swept away by landslides top official said.

Kinshasa's vice governor, Neron Mbungu, said: "The loss, in terms of property and lives, is huge." Adding he said that the dead included a child who was electrocuted.

He told that three of the city's 26 districts were severely hit. Adding further he said the rescue workers were continuing to hunt for more bodies.

"Wherever we found dead, we gave the mayors the means to bring the bodies to the morgue, and we also made available the means for the wounded to be taken to medical centres," said he.

A bridge connecting to the districts of Lemba and Ngaba collapsed, and another was destroyed in the district of Kisenso the official said.

Jean Nsaka, mayor of Lemba, said a drainage ditch had given way under pressure of the water, and the highway had been engulfed.

"More than 300 homes have been flooded. There are many houses which have been destroyed, Nsaka said.

Fatal floods are frequent in Kinshasa, Africa's third-largest city with around 10 million people. Experts say the city's substandard building practices and large slum areas give little protection, leading to relatively high death tolls.