Flooding and landslides brought by torrential rains in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have killed 438 villagers, local media reported Thursday, citing a government spokesperson.

The bodies of the victims have been mostly found in Bushushu and Nyamukubi, two villages in South Kivu province hard hit by flooding caused by heavy rains. The number of missing remains unknown, said Patrick Muyaya, the spokesperson.

According to the UN, nearly 3,000 houses were affected, of which around 1,200 were completely destroyed. Local authorities estimate that more than 5,000 people remain missing.