Burundi – Floods and Landslides Leave 6 Dead, 160 Homes Destroyed

Torrential rain that began during the evening of 16 March has caused flooding and landslides in northern and western areas of Burundi, including parts of the capital Bujumbura.

Local media, quoting Vice President Gaston Sindimwo, said that the heavy rain caused a landslide in the northwestern town of Mabayi, Cibitoke Province. The landslide smothered several houses and rescuers found five victims, with further searches ongoing.

The heavy rain also caused flooding in several districts of the capital Bujumbura, including Buterere and Kinama. At least one death was reported as a result of the flooding, which also destroyed 162 homes according to the vice president.

Flooding was also reported in other areas of the country, including Kiganda, Muramvya Province in central-western Burundi and Mutimbuzi in Bujumbura-Rural. Full damage assessments are yet to be carried out in these areas.

Social Media

Catastrophes:1mort(Kinyankonge)+dégâts ds les inondations.La Police secourt depuis la nuit.Buhinyuza et Buterere très touchés selon #Police pic.twitter.com/HsB84PMtnG

— Humura Burundi (@HumuraBurundi) March 17, 2017

#Burundi "Des inondations suite aux fortes pluies sur @MairieBujumbura dans la nuit d'hier" M. Nkurunziza, (pp PNB) pic.twitter.com/HsR8Ywbc7X

— Ikiriho (@Ikiriho) March 17, 2017

#Burundi Bilan-inondations dans Bujumbura(Carama-Buterere) : 1 mort(Kinyankonge) et plusieurs dégâts selon la police pic.twitter.com/kD09kD0z1l

— NIYONKURU Gilbert (@niyogilbert1) March 17, 2017