Rwanda Floods, Landslides Kill 130

Category: Africa News

Rwandans grieved Thursday for lost loved ones and destroyed homes after powerful floods and landslides tore through the country killing at least 130 people and leaving many thousands homeless.

The government was still counting the cost as families buried their dead in the aftermath of one of the worst such natural disasters in years in the hilly East African nation.

Rivers of mud swept away homes and other infrastructure and cut off roads after heavy rains in several areas, particularly the Western Province bordering Lake Kivu where the worst devastation was reported.

“I found my child buried under rocks and bricks that fell on him during the heavy rains. He died at the hospital,” Anonciata, who only gave one name, told AFP in the hard-hit district of Karongi.

“It is very devastating for our family. One of my other children also got badly injured on the head. I pray he survives.”

Imacule Kankwanzi said normal life had come to a halt in her village with nothing to eat and the roads blocked.

“Our houses are destroyed or flooded,” she told AFP. “My house is completely under water. In short, we are desperate and without hope.”

In Rubavu, another district badly affected, survivors said the floodwaters brought their homes crashing down.

“I kept calling, asking and wondering where my children were,” Nshimiyimana Egide told AFP.

He and his wife were able to find shelter in trees but “unfortunately all our kids were already dead”, he added.

Others were counting their blessings while coming to grips with the scale of destruction.

Jacqueline Mukamana rushed out of her home at midnight when neighbors warned her the river was flooding only for her home to be swept away.

“Our house, and everything (else), has been destroyed,” she said.

Another resident, Paul Bizimana, said he was grateful he managed to get his family out: “I managed to rescue my kids and family members… at least they are safe.”