At least 13 people died in the Republic of Congo and two dozen others were injured after torrential rains caused homes to collapse in southern Brazzaville over the weekend, authorities said Monday.

A Red Cross official said 13 bodies had been recovered, while Laurel Kihounzou, mayor of the southern Brazzaville district of Makelekele, told reporters that at least 26 people were injured.

According to witnesses, dozens of houses collapsed after a river in the Makelekele neighbourhood burst its banks.

Police confirmed the death toll, adding that they had provided shelter to nearly 600 residents affected by the flood.