Nearly 50 killed by heavy rains in Rwanda in past two months

Houses damaged in flash floods and landslides in Rubavu District, Western Province, Rwanda on May 4, 2023. [Xinhua]

Disasters triggered by heavy rains, including landslides and lightning, have killed at least 49 people and injured 79 others across Rwanda in the past two months, an official said on Thursday.

About 12 people were killed by lightning while others died after their dilapidated houses collapsed on them, Minister in charge of Emergency Management Albert Murasira told national television.

He added that the government has evacuated about 5,000 residents from high-risk zones to safer areas across the country.

The disasters also destroyed infrastructure, including homes, bridges, school buildings, road networks, and hectares of plantations.

The Rwanda Meteorology Agency has warned that several parts of Rwanda would experience heavy rains in the first 10 days of May.

The Rwanda Water Resources Board on Tuesday warned that heavy rains pounding the country are likely to cause some rivers to burst their banks and flood surrounding communities. As such, it advised people living near flood-prone areas to evacuate.

In May last year, floods and landslides hit western and northern Rwanda, killing 135 people.