Disasters & Accidents

At least 109 dead due to torrential rains in Rwanda

Kigali, May 3 (EFE).- At least 109 people were killed in western and northern Rwanda due to torrential rains that lashed the country the previous day, the state-owned Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) reported Wednesday.

Fourteen people died in the Northern province and 95 in the Western province, where the districts hardest hit were Ngororero, Rubavu, Rutsiro and Karongi, according to the regional governor François Habitegeko.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, Philippe Habinshuti, said they were planning to temporarily evacuate those in danger for their safety.

The incessant rainfall led to landslides and caused rivers to overflow their banks. This led to damaging of infrastructure and cutting off of roads and destruction of houses, in many cases with families trapped inside.

According to the authorities, the number of victims could rise as search and rescue operations were underway, including by air in areas where land access has been cut off.

The rainy season poses a significant threat to people in Rwanda, a country with large areas of sloped land terrain, most of them inhabited and used for farming. EFE

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