Rwanda: 127 dead as a result of heavy rains that caused floods and landslides

(CNN) Heavy rains triggered floods and landslides on Tuesday in Rwanda, killing at least 127 people in the western, northern and southern provinces, the president’s office said.

“Rescue interventions are underway in the most affected areas… in order to secure vulnerable citizens,” A.A statement By the Presidency said Wednesday.

The Rwandan National Police has warned that due to heavy rains, the Mukamira-Ngororero and Rubavu-Rutsero roads are temporarily unavailable.

“Alternative routes are advised. Police officers are available to direct traffic,” the Rwandan National Police said on its Twitter account.

The Rwanda Meteorological Agency had warned in its report Forecasts for the month of May Many parts of the country will receive more than average rain this month.

She added that The first 10 days of the month It will be wetter than normal with more precipitation than in April.

According to the Rwandan government’s Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), more than 60 people have died due to disasters between January and April this year, the country’s northern and western provinces. were the hardest hit.

Northern Province alone has seen no fewer than 1,500 disasters Ranging from floods and landslides in the past five years, with more than 200 people killed and thousands of homes destroyed, according to the Menma Foundation.

Myanmar’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs said in its letter that 205 people died last year in disasters across Rwanda. Disaster impact status report. The report stated that sixty-nine of them were affected by floods, landslides and rainstorms.