Heavy rainfall in Karongi District triggered a landslide that blocked a road and struck two motorcyclists and their passenger, leaving two people dead and one injured.
The incident occurred in Murambi Village, Byogo Cell, Mutuntu Sector on the night of March 26, 2026, at around 9:00 p.m.
According to local authorities, the area experienced heavy rainfall from around 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The soil in the district had already become saturated due to persistent rains that have been falling in Karongi since early March.
The victims, who were travelling by motorcycle, were returning home from Gasenyi trading center when the landslide struck.
Those who lost their lives were identified as 23-year-old Imanirafasha Diedonné from Nyabiguri Village in Gasharu Cell and Ishimwe Chance from Gashanga Village, also in Gasharu Cell.
The injured passenger, Harerimana Joseph, 42, from Karambo Village in Murengezo Cell, is currently receiving treatment at Kibuye District Hospital.
The Acting Executive Secretary of Mutuntu Sector, Ngendo Fabien, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and urged residents to remain cautious due to the ongoing heavy rains.
“We ask residents to be more vigilant because the soil in Karongi District has become very fragile following the heavy rains that have been falling for several days,” he said.
Meteo Rwanda has warned that rainfall in March 2026 is expected to be slightly above the seasonal average, increasing the risk of disasters such as landslides and floods.
This incident comes just three days after a similar tragedy occurred in Gashari Sector, also in Karongi District, where a landslide struck a house and killed two people.
According to the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management, disasters including heavy rains, landslides and lightning have claimed 207 lives across Rwanda between January 1, 2025 and March 18, 2026. During the same period, 432 people were injured, 2,341 houses were damaged and 35 others were completely destroyed.
