The number of individuals killed by flooding and landslides in Western and Northern provinces of Rwanda has risen.
Flooding has killed at least 109 people in northern and western Rwanda, according to the state-run Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), citing local officials.
“The rain that fell last night caused disaster in the Northern and Western Provinces,” according to the RBA’s website.
It stated 95 people had died in the worst-hit Western Province, and another 14 had died in the Northern Province, and that floodwaters had swept away homes and infrastructure, causing road closures.
Images sent to the RBA’s Twitter account showed wrecked homes, roads blocked off by landslides, and flooded fields.
“Relief efforts began immediately, including helping to bury disaster victims and providing supplies to those whose homes were destroyed,” said Marie Solange Kayisire, the minister in charge of emergency management.
A family of five died when the house they were living in collapsed in Bwishyura sector, Karongi district.
This fatality occurs one day after the Rwanda Meteorology Agency recorded severe rains in several sections of the country between May 1 and 10.
Rubavu, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Karongi, and Rutsiro in Western Province, and Musanze in Northern Province, are the most impacted districts.
Landslides and floods wrecked houses and swept away various properties and plants in these districts.
The Governor of Western Province, François Habitegeko, expressed condolences to the families who lost loved ones, stating that they are now working on relief efforts while counting the repercussions of the heavy downpour.
In May 2020, severe rains drenched East Africa, killing at least 65 people in Rwanda and caused at least 194 deaths in Kenya.