Heavy rain leaves trail of damage in southwestern Rwanda

Roofs of at least 169 houses, school buildings and churches were damaged during a downpour that hit several parts of Rusizi, a district in the southwestern Rwanda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), late on Tuesday.

The disaster occurred one week after Rwanda Meteorological Agency released a seasonal forecast for September to December that indicates chances for normal to above normal rainfall translating into abnormally high precipitation, mainly in the western parts of the country.

A senior official in Rusizi district, which was mostly affected, Martin Nziranziza, explained that the heavy rains accompanied by strong winds blew away the roofs of 13 primary school classrooms and a hall for a factory.

"Luckily no victims are currently recorded and no one was injured when the wind destroyed properties,” Nziranziza said.

Weather forecasters have warned of a risk of flooding and landslides as the storm swept through the southeast, west and northern Rwanda.

The East African nation's Northern and Western provinces are routinely lashed by torrential rains especially during the season from September to December and from February to May.

In the meanwhile, Rwandan officials have started the distribution of relief materials to victims of this week's floods in the north and southeast.

According to the Rwandan Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees, the floods triggered by incessant rainfall across several parts in northern and southeastern Rwanda, have not only left several families homeless but also destroyed at least 474 hectares of farms leaving the farmers doomed.

Heavy rains are expected to continue in the same region, the weather agency said, urging residents in affected areas to stay vigilant for possible flooding and mudslides.

Source: PANAPRESS