Three people, including three-year-old twins and a woman, were killed when a retaining wall collapsed onto a house in Gisozi Sector, Gasabo District, during heavy rainfall on Thursday, October 22.
The twins’ mother was injured and taken to the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) for treatment, according to CIP Wellars Gahonzire, Rwanda National Police spokesperson in the City of Kigali.
The woman, a neighbour, had sought shelter in the house from the rain when the wall collapsed at around 1 p.m.
Gahonzire said the incident was caused by the heavy rainfall, although the area was not classified as a disaster hotspot.
He urged residents to take precautions during the rainy season, including relocating from disaster-prone areas, reinforcing weak roofs, properly constructing retaining walls, and ensuring effective drainage to prevent rainwater-related damage.
Parents were also urged to closely supervise children travelling to and from school, particularly in flood-prone areas.