Heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds, wreaked havoc on Groupe Scolaire Migongo in Nyarutunga Cell, Nyarubuye Sector, Kirehe District on September 7.

The storm, which struck at around 2 PM, destroyed the roofs and walls of 11 classrooms, leaving the school's infrastructure in ruins.

Iron sheets were blown off, windows shattered, and debris littered the school grounds. Two additional classrooms were affected, prompting authorities to pre-emptively remove their roofing to prevent further destruction.

Classes are expected to resume on Monday, September 9.

In response to the disaster, Kirehe District officials acted swiftly, collaborating with the Ministry of Emergency Management, which has committed to provide emergency aid. Modeste Nzirabatinya, the Kirehe District Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development, stated that the response team is working to ensure support arrives at the site promptly.

To minimize disruption to students' learning, a nearby private school has offered six classrooms for temporary use.

"We are working diligently to repair the damaged classrooms as quickly as possible. Students will be using the temporary classrooms from the nearby private school until repairs are completed," Nzirabatinya explained.

He urged residents to reinforce their roofs and safeguard their properties against future storms as the rainy season begins.

"Our ongoing awareness campaign is closely monitoring public spaces like schools, markets, and churches to ensure safety measures are in place," he added.

Groupe Scolaire Migongo, built in 1998, had remained structurally sound until this storm overwhelmed its infrastructure.

Nzirabatinya assured the community of the authorities' commitment to quickly restore the school so that students can return to a safe learning environment as soon as possible.