Congo River bursts its banks

Reports from the Democratic Republic of Congo say thousands of people in the eastern city of Kisangani have been made homeless after the Congo River burst its banks last week.

Parts of the city are reported to be flooded after unseasonal heavy rains caused the river to swell.

State radio said six children died after drinking contaminated water.

Earlier this week, electricity and water supplies were cut off, and ferry traffic along the Congo river a major source of trade has been disrupted in the Kisangani area.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service