Flooding sparked by heavy seasonal rains and onrush of water from hills has caused havoc in southwestern Rwanda, APA can report on Tuesday.
The affected area is under more threat as water has been rising significantly in Nyabarongo river flowing southward.
Reports said that floods also caused widespread damage to habitation, crops, roads and highways across vast swathes of different districts in southwestern Rwanda.
The Mayor of Muhanga district, Jacqueline Kayitare confirmed to APA that authorities have rushed teams of disaster response task force to carry out rescue operation, distribute relief materials.
“All of our efforts are focused on reaching the affected communities and ensuring that they have the supplies and support needed to withstand coming floods,” Kayitare said.
Earlier last week, the Rwanda Meteorology Agency warned more rains are expected throughout the end of December.
The agency said the cause of the heavy rains across Rwanda was due to strong winds that abruptly made a U-turn from the Western part of Rwanda – driving away moisture within the Congo forests towards Rwanda.
Expected rains are due to a strong Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which is over the region where Rwanda is located, it said.
The forecast indicated that the expected rains will range between 80 and 240 millimetres within the warning period.
The likely impacts, it said, include severe widespread flooding to major rivers, damage, and loss of houses, landslides, risk of loss of lives and livelihoods, poor visibility causing incidences of accidents, danger to life due to fast-flowing rivers and deep water as well as loss of infrastructure and other property.
CU/as/APA