The Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) has said 1,622 households located in disaster-risk hotspots need to relocate urgently before heavy rainfall.

These households are in eight districts expected to experience heavy rainfall between March and May. The districts are include Rusizi, Rubavu, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Nyamagabe, and Nyaruguru.

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Christine Hitimana Niyotwambaza, the Director General of Surveillance and Preparedness at the ministry, told The New Times that more than 420 disaster-risk hotspots had been identified in 18 districts.

"Households are being moved to safer areas in rented homes. In cases of emergency, they are temporarily accommodated in evacuation sites,” she said.

The government plans to spend Rwf97.5 million on rental costs for the households in need of urgent relocation, according to the ministry.

The official did not specify the number of households that had been relocated from risky areas or how many remained there.

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The Rwanda Meteorology Agency says that Western Province is projected to be significantly impacted by high amounts of rainfall compared to other regions.

The weather forecaster indicates that the districts expected to receive heavy rainfall include Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Rubavu, most parts of Nyamagabe, Nyaruguru, Karongi, Rutsiro, and the western part of Nyabihu District, with precipitation levels ranging between 450 and 550 millimetres.