Heavy rain, floods kill at least 55 in Rwanda

Heavy rain triggered flooding and landslides in western Rwanda, killing at least 55 people, while rescuers are trying to help those injured and trapped in their homes, a senior government official has said.

“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. 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.

Mr Habitegeko said the rain started at around 6pm (4pm Irish time) yesterday afternoon 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.

Source: RTE