Landslides on a hill in Gakenke District have demolished 26 houses, Eugene Uwimana, the Executive Secretary of Mugunga Sector where the disaster happened, told The New Times. ALSO READ: Landslide victims laid to rest Signs of imminent danger were observed at the end of last week which prompted urgent relocation of some residents from the hill, he noted. On Sunday, May 5, seven houses collapsed after being trapped by a landslide while more houses were damaged on Monday afternoon. “Seven houses were totally covered up by the landslide. Had people been inside it could have been tragic. 19 houses were damaged in two cells of Rutabo and Gahinga but they did not totally collapse. Fortunately, the residents had been evacuated since we had observed that a landslide was very likely,” he explained. A resident who survived the disaster was hospitalized at Gatonde hospital. ALSO READ: Eight family members perish in Gakenke landslides “We have relocated the affected families and given them temporary shelter in different parts of the sector. We urge all residents in identified landslide hotspots to urgently relocate,” he said. According to a report from the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), the affected families had crops including cassava, maize, beans, banana plantations, sugar cane, growing on five hectares, and forests, that were destroyed. In 2020, in the same district, eight family members perished due to a landslide in Rusasa Sector. In 2016, 35 people lost their lives in one day due to landslides in Gakenke District. MINEMA has identified 326 disaster hotspots across the country in 18 districts, including all districts of Northern and Western provinces, the City of Kigali and three districts of Southern Province. Rwanda Meteorology Agency, on May 4, announced that heavy rain would affect different areas from May 5 to May 7. “Meteo Rwanda would like to inform Rwandan Citizens that moderate to heavy rainfall with thunderstorms will continue across the country especially over northern and western parts of the country also in Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe Districts. The rainfall ranging between 20 to 40 mm per day is expected between May 5 and May 7, 2024.” Likely impacts as a result of heavy rainfall, the weather forecaster said, include severe widespread flooding in rivers, swamps and low- lying areas, landslides on steep slopes, lightning strikes, and damage of infrastructure. “Meteo Rwanda would like to inform the general public to take appropriate measures to mitigate impacts associated with moderate to heavy rainfall in reference to provided weather and climate information,” reads the advisory. Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) also informed residents of Rwanda that “due to the predicted heavy rains in May, some rivers could burst their banks to cause flooding in the surrounding communities.” According to a released warning, the rivers that could cause floods include River Sebeya, Karambo, Nyabahanga, Kabirizi, Nyabarongo, Mwogo, Mukungwa, Rubyiro, Cyagara, as well as rivers in the Virunga corridor. The gullies in the volcano regions of Burera, Musanze, Nyabihu, and Rubavu, could also burst due to heavy rains.
