UPDATE - Heavy rains, landslides kill more than 115 in Rwanda, Uganda

UPDATES WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

By James Tasamba, Godfrey Olukya and Seda Sevencan

KIGALI, Rwanda / KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – More than 115 people were killed by flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Rwanda and Uganda, authorities announced on Wednesday.

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

“At least 109 people have so far been confirmed dead, including 95 in the Western Province and 14 in the Northern Province.”

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.

Some of the victims died after their houses collapsed, she said.

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.

More than 60 people were killed and 158 injured by climate change-induced disasters in Rwanda from January to April 20 this year, official data showed.

Meanwhile, in Uganda, eight people were killed, including five members of one family, by a landslide in the western Kisoro district, according to the Uganda Red Cross.

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 2 May 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.