The sudden and unexpected rains that lashed several parts of Rwanda’s Southern Province late on Sunday have left a trail of destruction in the region.
Eight classrooms and dozens of residential houses were swept away, a senior local administrative official in the region confirmed Monday.
The Mayor of Huye district which was the mostly affected, Ange Sebutege said the heavy rains also caused severe impediment to the movement of traffic across various parts of Tumba and Rango.
“Disaster teams are currently working hard to access all the affected areas in a move to assess the damages,” Sebutege said.
The Rwanda Meteorological Agency (RMA) has issued a red weather warning for predicted heavy rainfall this week in several parts of North, West and Southern provinces.
Storm-related flooding, landslides, and transportation disruptions are expected in these areas but heavy rains should also be anticipated elsewhere, the weather watchdog warned.
In several remote rural areas which are prone to disasters especially in North and Western Rwanda, officials and meteorologists are using text messages or mobile apps to warn local residents of potential lightning activity based on sensor data and forecasts.
Meteorologists say more storms are on the way in the coming days, with officials urging people to remain vigilant and stay indoors.
CU/as/APA