A deadly storm swept through southeastern Burundi on Sunday, leaving a trail of devastation in Butare zone, Bukemba Commune, Rutana province. Torrential rains, accompanied by hail and fierce winds, caused widespread destruction, killing one child, injuring 28 people, and displacing hundreds of families.
The storm’s impact was particularly severe in Bukemba, where 368 households lost their homes, crops were destroyed, and vital infrastructure was severely damaged. According to Françoise Twagirayezu, the head of Bukemba Commune, one of the four churches that collapsed during the storm had been hosting a congregation at the time of the disaster. Tragically, an eight-year-old girl lost her life, and dozens of injured individuals are receiving treatment in local medical facilities.
“The rain and wind not only destroyed homes and schools but also swept away 725 hectares of maize and 895 hectares of cassava,” Twagirayezu told Burundi’s public broadcaster RTNB on Monday. “The damage is immense, and a road has been blocked by fallen trees, making it difficult to access the area for two days.”
The storm also destroyed 15 schools in the commune, further complicating the region’s recovery efforts as students prepare to return to classes in January. The communal leader has issued an urgent appeal for assistance to help affected families rebuild their homes, restore damaged farmland, and secure roofing materials to ensure children can resume their education.
“We call on charitable organizations and well-wishers to provide support to the affected people. Immediate relief is needed to address the widespread destruction and help the community recover,” Twagirayezu said.
This is not the first time the region has been hit by severe storms. Over the past few weeks, torrential rains accompanied by hail and violent winds caused widespread destruction in the Kiguhu and Mugondo zones of Mpinga Kayove Commune in Ruyigi province, eastern Burundi. More than 650 households were left devastated, with crops destroyed and homes swept away by the floods.
This disaster is part of a series of severe weather events that have recently struck Burundi. Last week, a violent storm hit Mugamba Commune in Bururi Province, in the southern part of the country, damaging crops and leaving many farmers in urgent need of assistance. In November, a storm in Gashikanwa Commune, Ngozi Province, in northern Burundi, affected nearly 10,000 households. Similarly, another storm in Mugina Commune, Cibitoke Province, in western Burundi, destroyed 16 hectares of crops, leaving farmers in urgent need of assistance.
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