Floods disaster: Who are the students that perished?
Saturday, May 06, 2023

Rwandans, particularly those who lost loved ones in the calamity that claimed the lives of 131 people in Western, Northern, and Southern provinces, are still mourning.

The people who died include 16 pupils from 33 different schools. Of these, nine students are from Ngororero district, one from Gakenke, three from Nyabihu, and three from Karongi.

These students perished when floods and landslides hit their home areas.

ALSO READ: 15 students dead, 33 schools destroyed by flood

Here are the students that lost their lives in the calamitous weather conditions:

Five siblings perished in the same house

The mudslides swept away the room where five siblings, including 16-year-old Beatrice Ntabanganyimana who studied in primary six, were sleeping. Others were 13-year-old Theonetse Bunani who studied in primary five, eight-year-old Esther Muhawenimana who studied in primary three, five-year-old Clarisse Turikumwe who was in her third year of nursery, and three-year-old Pacifique Kwitonda who was in the second year of nursery.

Their mother, 41-year-old Alphonsine Nyirandangijimana, who was sleeping in another room, survived.

James Kwizera & Cyuzuzo

Primary four student James Kwizera, 13, studied at GS Rwiri, in Rwiri sector, Ngororero district. He passed away with his father and young brother, a seven-year-old Cyuzuzo, who also studied at GS Rwiri in primary one.

ALSO READ: Disaster response: Community health workers deployed to support children

Havugimana & Beatrice Irankunda

Two siblings, 12-year-old Havugimana and his little sister, 10-year-old Beatrice Irankunda, who studied at CS Magaba in primary five, and primary three, respectively, in Ngororero district, were killed when mudslides engulfed their home.

Kevin Ihabwicyubahiro

A primary two student, Kevin Ihabwicyubahiro, 8, of EP Kanshenge in Kamubuga sector, Gakenke district, was killed along with his sibling in the village of Marira, Kamubuga cell when mudslides fell on their home.

Devothe Uwajeneza

A primary two student Devothe Uwajeneza, 9, who studied at EP Kinihira in Rambura sector, Nyabihu district, died with her mother and little sister after the mudslides fell on their home.

Innocent Uwiringiyimana

A nursery school student Innocent Uwiringiyimana, 5, studied at GS Kintobo in Kintobo sector, Nyabihu district. Along with his mother and brother, he perished when a cliff fell on their home in Gasyo village, Kintobo cell.

ALSO READ: Grieving mother still searching for 7-year-old son missing under landslide

Edson Niyimpagaritse

Nine-year-old Edson Niyimpagaritse studied in primary two at GS Gatovu in Kintobo sector, Nyabihu district. He passed away after the side of the house he was sleeping on was ravaged by a mudslide.

Thomas Izabayo

A primary three student Thomas Izabayo, 10, at EP Gatwaro in Bwishyura sector, Karongi district, perished at the family’s house in Bupfune village, Nyarusazi cell.

Deborah Uwikuze & Dorcas Tuyishime

A primary one student Deborah Uwikuze and her elder sister Dorcas Tuyishime studied in primary four at GS Nyegabo in Bwishyura sector, Karongi district. Their house collapsed on them, but their parents managed to survive.