Death toll from floods, landslides in Rwanda, Uganda reaches 140

By James Tasamba and Hamza Kyeyune

KIGALI, Rwanda/ KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – The death toll from flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Rwanda and Uganda reached 140 on Thursday, authorities said.

Alain Mukuralinda, Rwanda’s deputy government spokesperson, said at least 130 people were killed in western, northern, and southern provinces of the country following a heavy downpour that pounded the country Tuesday overnight.

At least 77 people were injured, including 33 who are admitted to health facilities, Mukuralinda told a national broadcaster.

The rains also destroyed more than 5,000 houses, leaving residents homeless, with Rubavu, Karongi, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, and Ngororero among the worst-hit districts, he said.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, along with other government officials, joined the residents of the Rubavu district in western Rwanda for the burial of the victims.

President Paul Kagame, in a condolence message to the families of the victims, said the government was doing everything within its means to address the difficult situation.

It rained Tuesday overnight in several parts of western and northern Rwanda, Marie Solange Kayisire, the minister for emergency management, told reporters.

The rain also destroyed houses and crops.

Kayisire said relief efforts were ongoing to provide temporary shelter to those rendered homeless.

She said the rain also caused landslides, badly hitting the districts of Ngororero, Rubavu, Nyabihu, Rutsiro, and Karongi in western Rwanda.

The rain also triggered flooding in western Rwanda after River Sebeya burst its banks, Geoginah Mutabazi, a resident of Rubavu, told Anadolu.

The Rwanda Meteorological Agency on Tuesday forecast beyond-average rains and extreme weather-related events in some parts of the country during the first 10 days of May.

Meanwhile, in Western Uganda’s Kisoro district, the death toll from Tuesday’s mudslides has risen to 18, according to the Uganda Red Cross Society.

Uganda's western region is currently facing heavy rains which have triggered landslides, causing casualties and destroying houses and crops.

Kisoro district resident commissioner, Safiq Ssekandi, said the heavy rain also destroyed over 100 houses.

“It rained heavily last night from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., destroying houses and gardens. It also killed many domestic animals, and all roads are now impassable,” Ssekandi told Anadolu.

- Türkiye expresses condolences

“We are deeply saddened that more than 100 people have lost their lives due to the landslides and floods caused by heavy rains on May 2, 2023, in the Western and Northern Provinces of the Republic of Rwanda,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Ankara has expressed condolences and solidarity to the families of those who have lost their lives as well as to the people and government of Rwanda, the ministry added.