APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – Heavy rains and landslides that hotportions of the roadway prompted authorities on Tuesday to close one of the major highways connecting Kigali to Northern Rwanda, a police source said.
A police spokesperson in the Northern Province said that the highway has been closed while they scramble to repair damaged roads due to landslides.
It was unclear exactly how long the closure would last, but the situation would be revisited after assessing the damages.
Latest weather predictions by Rwanda Meteorological Agency indicate that during the second half of January 2024, major parts of the country will continue to experience above normal rainfall.
The amount of rainfall ranging between 10 and 120 mm is expected across the country, it said.
Likely impacts of flooding, soil erosion and landslides in flood prone areas. Preparedness and mitigation measures should be put in place to minimize impacts that may be caused by the expected rains, the weather watchdog said.
The forecast cites convergence of wind and increased moisture over the region as the factors to influence the weather.
Released early January, the outlook forecasted “a chance of above-normal and normal rains over most parts of the country,” especially the north and western Rwanda.
Most parts across North and Northwestern Rwanda are considered as national food baskets.
CU/abj/APA