Rwanda Faces Disasters from Heavy Rainfall: 52 Lives Lost Since April
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Since early April, Rwanda has experienced severe disasters due to heavy rainfall, resulting in 52 fatalities and 107 injuries. The government is actively relocating families from high-risk areas and enhancing disaster preparedness in response to the ongoing crisis.
Key Takeaways
- 52 fatalities and 107 injuries reported.
- 390 disaster incidents recorded between April 1-16.
- 522 disaster-prone hotspots identified nationwide.
- Government relocating 1,600 households in high-risk zones.
- Predicted rainfall could exceed 350 mm in certain districts.
Kigali, April 19 (NationPress) A tragic toll of at least 52 lives lost and 107 injuries has been reported in Rwanda due to disasters caused by heavy rainfall since the start of April, according to an official statement.
Adalbert Rukebanuka, the director general of planning, policy, and risk reduction at the Ministry responsible for Emergency Management, informed the press on Friday in Kigali that from April 1 to 16, the nation experienced 390 disaster incidents.
“During the period from April 1 to April 16, we documented 390 disaster events resulting in 52 fatalities and 107 injuries. Moreover, at least 19 buildings collapsed, while 731 were reported as damaged,” he stated.
Rukebanuka emphasized that the Ministry has pinpointed 522 disaster-prone hotspots throughout the nation, with approximately 22,000 households - home to nearly 97,000 individuals - currently facing danger, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
He alerted that 117 infrastructure pieces, 23 public facilities, and over 25,000 hectares of agricultural land might also be impacted by the disasters due to the ongoing heavy rains.
As part of their emergency response strategy, he mentioned that more than 1,600 households in high-risk districts, including Rusizi, Rubavu, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Nyamagabe, and Nyaruguru, are slated for urgent relocation.
Rukebanuka revealed that so far, 800 families from high-risk areas have already been relocated and are currently receiving shelter.
Since catastrophic floods and landslides affected the Western Province in May 2023, claiming over 100 lives and destroying thousands of homes and critical infrastructure, Rwanda has been actively enhancing its disaster preparedness and response systems.
The government initiated emergency housing measures, completing 904 homes shortly after the disaster.
The Rwanda Meteorology Agency has forecasted that the rainfall in April will exceed historical averages, predicting precipitation levels between 100 mm to 350 mm, compared to the typical 100 mm to 300 mm.
The most severe downpours, expected to reach 300 mm to 350 mm, are predicted for the Rusizi district, the eastern regions of Nyamasheke, northern areas of Karongi, and western parts of Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru.
Through the Contingency Emergency Response Component project, 900 homes have already been finalized, with an additional 1,888 homes currently under construction, according to the Ministry.
