Heavy rain, floods kill at least 55 in Rwanda

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Heavy rain, floods kill at least 55 in Rwanda

8:05 CAT | 03 May 2023

Photo: Twitter / @rbarwanda

Heavy rain triggered flooding and landslides in western Rwanda killing at least 55 people and rescuers were trying to help the injured and people trapped in their homes, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

“It rained heavily all night, causing immense suffering,” François Habitegeko, governor of the Western Province, told Reuters, adding that the hardest-hit districts were Ngororero, Rubavu, Nyabihu, Rutsiro, and Karongi.

“We have lost many lives and families. Around 55 people have died, not to mention the wounded and those trapped under their houses. We are trying to rescue as many people as possible.”

The state-run Rwanda Broadcasting Agency posted a video clip on Twitter showing muddy water flowing fast along an inundated road and destroyed houses.

Habitegeko said the rain started at around 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Tuesday and the River Sebeya had burst its banks.

“The soil was already soaked from the previous days of rain, which caused landslides that closed roads,” he said.

The Rwanda Meteorology Agency had said that the East African nation was expected to receive above-average rainfall in May.

JUST IN
Heavy rains and floods have led to the loss of at least 55 lives in @RwandaWest.

#RBANews pic.twitter.com/hGlR7ESNQR

— Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) (@rbarwanda) May 3, 2023