Survivors of Rusororo tragic accident narrate horrific ordeal

On some fields belonging to Abaharanira Ubukire Gasagara farmers’ cooperative, in Rusororo Sector, in Gasabo District, maize stems stand tall after the cobs were harvested and taken to a nearby maize drying shelter, which collapsed, instantly killing 11 people, on Friday, February 3. More than 30 others were critically injured, according to Rwanda National Police (RNP.). The injured were attended to by emergency health personnel and evacuated to medical facilities, according to the Office of the Prime Minister. When The New Times arrived at the scene, on Friday evening, much of Gasagara Cell was a scene of despair. Big heaps of harvested maize were abandoned on the ground and not stored in open-to-air structures. There was no much joy over the good harvest anymore. READ ALSO: PM Ngirente consoles victims of Rusororo tragic accident Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Friday, January 3, condoled with the grief-stricken families whose members passed on in the tragic accident. “The government will provide appropriate support to the bereaved families and the injured,” a statement by the Office of the Prime Minister read in part. Measures to ensure the safety of built structures will be reinforced to avoid similar incidents in the future, it added. According to Telesphore Gashugi, the president of Abaharanira Ubukire Gasagara farmers’ cooperative, it counted 76 members who farm on 12.5 hectares. Gashugi told The New Times that this year, the cooperative had registered a record-high harvest. But the farmers, instead of rejoicing for the good hervest, are now in shock. The loss of lives, and the pain inflicted on the many others who survived but are critically injured as a result of the fatal collapse of the maize shelter, hit them hard. The collapsing of the drying facility, Gashugi said, was attributable to the fact that it was overloaded with maize, which was aggravated by wind that shook it. “It collapsed, and we screamed and shouted, saying that we are perishing,” he said. His wife who was inside the shelter is one of those injured in the accident – as her legs were trapped when the structure collapsed. Gashugi was not hit as he was near the door, and easily escaped when the commotion started. He said that they called for help, and were able to remove the debris to rescue some people who were stuck. Unfortunately, he said 10 people died on the spot, while about 45 others got injured. Justin Munezerwa, another member of the cooperative, was among those who were inside the shelter, hanging maize. According to Munezerwa, about 300 people were at the facility. Every cooperative member had brought about four casual labourers to help them handle their large maize hervest, he said. The most affected people are those who were sitting inside while preparing the maize before they got displayed on the wooden structures, as well as those who were hanging the maize, because it was difficult for them to make their way out. “I was also hanging the maize to dry. But, when the shelter collapsed, I immediately ran and managed to escape mainly because I was near the exit,” he said. Meanwhile, Gashugi said the Government committed to supporting the bereaved families to cover costs related to the funeral services or burial of the deceased. Though not so sure, he said that it was expected that the victims could be laid to rest on Saturday or Sunday. Gashugi said they previously were used to harvesting between 48 and 50 tonnes of maize per season. But, this year, we would get 80 tonnes per season,” he said, attributing their good yield to increased fertiliser use, and quality seeds. Their maize drying shelter, he said, was built in 2019 at a cost of over Rwf5.8 million. He explained that it was made of intertwined wooden structure covered with iron sheets. It also had a pavement made of concrete, and a retaining wall. It was set up on a relatively sloping surface. Gashugi said that people who were most affected by its fall are those who were in the area towards the base of the slope as that is where most of the structure caved in.

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Survivors of Rusororo tragic accident narrate horrific ordeal