Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have launched an investigation after a fire at a wedding party in Kinshasa killed at least 22 people and injured several others.

The blaze broke out at a building in the Lingwala municipality late Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday, trapping guests as they tried to escape.

Narrow hallways reportedly became blocked as panicked attendees attempted to flee the flames.

"We have just inspected the venue here, and it is clear that the [safety] norms are not being respected," Norbert Nzindula, mayor of Lingwala, told the Congolese Press Agency.

Implementing safety measures

"Even the emergency exit: as you can see, people had difficulty getting to safety; everyone was in a state of panic. This is regrettable, so we are going to take action, and the authorities will implement measures for other function venues within my jurisdiction and throughout the city and province of Kinshasa."

Viral videos showed several people, both alive and dead, lying by the roadside as attendees tried to rescue those who had survived the fire.

The exact cause of the blaze remained unconfirmed.

"It is a tragedy," Jacquemin Shabani, Congo's deputy prime minister and interior minister, said during a visit to the site on Saturday morning.

Deadly fires are common in densely populated parts of Kinshasa, where rapid urban development often takes place without adequate infrastructure such as fire services.

The situation is particularly dangerous during the dry season, with several fires reported in the city this year, according to local media.