One dead as floods block Musanze-Rubavu Highway

A boy, who is about 10 years old, died today morning and passengers who use Kigali-Rubavu highway were left stranded as floods ravaged Musanze town after an overnight down power.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

A boy, who is about 10 years old, died today morning and passengers who use Kigali-Rubavu highway were left stranded as floods ravaged Musanze town after an overnight down power.

The waters came from the Volcanoes National Park following the flooding of the rivers and other water bodies within the park, according to police.

Chief Inspector of Police Andre Hakizimana, the Northern Region police spokesperson said the body of the victim, whose identity was still unknown by press time, was found in Kasoro River, one of the flooded water bodies.

The body has been taken to Ruhengeri Hospital for postmortem.

The floods blocked the Kigali-Rubavu Highway for the entire morning leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and the waters continued to stream in from the park.

"We can’t tell when this will end, it has been raining since last night and the rain is still too much, crops have been destroyed and houses have also been flooded,” said Hakizimana.

He said they are working with local leaders and security organs to ensure no more people use the road before the situation normalises.

Earlier last month, waters from the same rivers destroyed hectares of crops and seeped through houses around Musanze, which left them weak and vulnerable to further rains.

Officials have called for a new study to expand the river banks from the park to ensure the water does not cause further damage.