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In Rwanda, at least 65 people have died after heavy rains damaged houses and washed away bridges, according to officials.
In recent weeks, the country has been hit by torrential downpours that have led to floods and landslides. The landslides and floods have crushed homes built on mountain slopes, with similar scenes playing out across East Africa.
In a statement on Thursday, Rwanda’s Ministry of Emergency Management said rains the night before were the worst in months. The rains also caused “a number of disasters” in seven districts: Gakenke, Nyabihu, Muhanga, Musanze, Ngororero, Rulindo and Rubavu.
“Up until midnight, 65 death cases had been registered due to floods. The rains also led to damage of infrastructure like roads, 91 houses, 5 bridges. Several farms were swept away by the floods,” said the statement.
The toll follows the deaths of eight people in heavy rains on Friday and Saturday, the ministry added.
Floods around East Africa
Countries across East Africa have experienced major downpours in recent weeks, with devastating effects for the local populations.
Related: East Africa struggles with floods and heavy rains
In neighbouring Kenya, floods and landslides have killed nearly 200 people in the past month. While in Uganda, Lake Victoria has overflown, submerging houses, a hospital and bridges and displacing thousands.
Four teenagers drowned in Kenya on Thursday after a river burst its banks. This happened a day after the government announced 194 people had been killed due to floods and landslides since the rainy season began in April. Large areas of farmland and water infrastructure have also been destroyed.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday wrote on Twitter that Lake Victoria was near record levels.
The Red Cross issued a statement on Thursday saying thousands were displaced in Uganda after two rivers burst their banks, and a major hospital in western Kasese had partly been submerged by water.
Somalia has also experienced floods in several areas, with six people killed in northeast Puntland last month.
