APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – At least one person died and six others were injured Wednesday after a lightning bolt struck the mountainous village of Gicumbi in Northern Rwanda, according to a senior local administrative official in the region.
Theobald Kayiranga, the Executive Secretary of Kaniga Sector in Gicumbi district told APA that the incident occurred in the afternoon when there was bad weather in the area and that six people sustained injuries associated with a lightning strike including four who are currently admitted in intensive care unit at a neighboring hospital.
“Those injured were taken to the hospital for treatment,” Kayiranga said, adding that the victims were sheltering in the hut amid a downpour when the lightning struck.
The Rwanda Meteorological Agency has predicted heavy rains in several parts across Rwanda between September and December this year. The weather watchdog cautioned people not to venture out during rains.
Climate experts attribute the projected increase in rainfall to a combination of various factors, which are likely linked to broader global climate trends. The forecast predicts that the Western Province, Northern Province, and Southern Province will also witness varying levels of heavy rainfall.
The projected rainfall is significantly higher than the traditional average, with the maximum recorded in the same period last year being between 400 and 500 millimeters, it said.
CU/abj/APA