In the heavy rains that hit the northern, western, and southern Provinces of the country on May 2 and 3, at least 130 people were killed, but thousands of others managed to survive, thanks to their neighbours and other organisations and institutions.

The New Times’ journalists in Rubavu District interviewed different people who shared testimonies about how they survived the floods.

ALSO READ: PHOTOS: PM Ngirente attends flood victims’ burial in Rubavu

Madeline Twizerimana and her family of 10, Rugerero, Rubavu

It started raining at around 10:00 PM and we thought it was usual. We went to sleep but woke up to a lot of water in the compound. We then woke the children up and evacuated the house. The house collapsed just after we got out, at around 6:00 AM. It is God who saved us.

The water was almost neck-length. All our neighbours’ houses are destroyed, and all the livestock, hens, and pigs are dead.

The rescuers carried my youngest children on their backs and helped us to reach safety.

ALSO READ: Flood disaster: Death toll climbs to 130, over 5,000 houses swept

Alliance, Nyabihu

Someone called me out loud, telling me houses in the area were being destroyed by the rain, and asked me if mine was intact. I told them water doesn’t enter my house. But when I got up, water had filled my living room. I got out immediately and my neighbours helped me to get out of the flood.

Innocent Nizeyimana

The floods destroyed my house, my mother’s and brother’s and sisters’. When it rained, I had just had a stroke and wasn’t aware. I knew of the disaster in the morning when they carried me to safety.

ALSO READ: International community condoles with Rwanda over flood disasters

Mariko Banguka, Rugerero, Rubavu

It rained at night and we managed to evacuate the house when the water had reached half the length of the house. Because I am living with disabilities, my wife carried the children on her back to the road.

Ten minutes after we went out of the house, one of the walls collapsed.

Vumiliya Nyiransabimana and her family of nine, Rugerero, Rubavu

We were inside the house when our neighbour called us and said there was a flood, and that we should get out.

When we reached outside, we thought it was the usual. Last time, we made way for the rainwater and it worked. This time, we would try to direct the water away from the house with basins, but the water became more and more.

I went back into the house and put the baby I was carrying on my back to bed with her slightly older sibling. My husband and I then started putting sand in sacs, hoping it will save us from the water, but it was increasing and becoming more thrust.

We then got our children and evacuated the house, which was later destroyed. We didn’t manage to save anything else.

By Glory Iribagiza, Michel Nkurunziza and Olivier Mugwiza