Lightning kills one, injures six as heavy rain causes havoc
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Lightning killed one person and injured six people in Kaniga sector of Gicumbi District , on the evening of September 27.

Lightning, on the evening of September 27, killed one person and injured six people in Kaniga sector of Gicumbi District, according to the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency.

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The injured are currently hospitalised in Byumba Hospital, with four in critical condition.

A hailstorm also caused havoc in Huye District damaging three classrooms of GS Butare Catholique, ADEPR Cyarwa church, and some houses of residents.

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Heavy rain also caused damage in Gisagara and Nyamagabe districts.

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According to the Rwanda Meteorology Agency, rainfall between 20 and 120 millimetres was estimated across the country until September 30.

The expected rainfall amount will be above the range of the long-term average in most parts of the country.

Rainfall ranging between 100 and 120 mm is expected over most parts of Rubavu, northern parts of Rutsiro, Burera, Musanze, western parts of Nyabihu, a small part of north-western Ngororero and central parts of Nyamasheke District.

Rainfall ranging between 80 and 100 mm is expected in most parts of Karongi, Rusizi, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Gakenke, and Rulindo districts, in the remaining parts of Nyamasheke, Nyabihu, western parts of Nyamagabe, and a small part of western Nyaruguru.

Rainfall ranging between 60 and 80 mm is expected over most parts of Gicumbi, Muhanga, Ruhango, Kamonyi and Nyamagabe districts, north-western parts of Gasabo and Nyarugenge in Kigali, western parts of Nyaruguru, Huye, Nyanza and Nyagatare, south-western parts of Rusizi, north-eastern parts of Gakenke, south-eastern parts of Musanze and Bugesera, and southern parts of Burera, Kirehe and Ngoma districts.

Rainfall ranging between 40 and 60 mm is expected in most parts of Eastern Province, Gisagara, and Kicukiro districts, and the remaining parts of Huye, Nyanza, Nyaruguru, Gasabo, and Nyarugenge districts.

Rainfall ranging between 20 and 40 mm is expected in the eastern parts of Kirehe, northern parts of Gatsibo, and south-eastern parts of Kayonza and Nyagatare districts.

Expected impact

"Impacts associated with light to moderate rains and accumulated rain are expected. Likely impacts of flooding on road surfaces, in localised agricultural areas, flood-prone areas during rainstorms, soil erosion and landslides in the areas of high slopes, therefore mitigation measures should be put in place by relevant institutions,” Rwanda Meteorology Agency has warned.

Moderate to strong wind speed ranging between 4 m/s and 10 m/s is expected across the country.

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A strong wind speed between 8 and 10 m/ is expected over most parts of Karongi, eastern parts of Nyamasheke, western parts of Nyamagabe, southern parts of Rutsiro, and a small isolated part of Rusizi and Rubavu districts.

Most parts of the country are expected to experience slightly strong wind speed ranging between 6 and 8 m/s, except in most parts of western Kigali, northern, southern, and western parts of Bugesera, Amayaga region, small isolated part of eastern Rwamagana, western Ngoma and southern parts of Musanze where moderate wind speed ranging between 4 m/s and 6 m/s is expected.

Kigali City, Bugesera District, western parts of Ngoma, Eastern parts of Kamonyi, Amayaga Region, and Bugarama plain are expected to experience higher maximum temperatures ranging between 30°C and 32°C.