Iwawa lightning victims out of danger – medics

Four youth from Iwawa Island in Rutsiro District who were struck by lightning at the weekend are steadily recovering, doctors at Gisenyi Hospital where they are admitted said.One person died and six others sustained minor injuries during the Saturday incident.Dr. William Kanyankore, the hospital’s director told The New Times yesterday that the victims would be discharged on Friday.“They are now out of coma, and their state is better compared to how they were on Saturday,” he said.Gaspard Byukusenge, the Mayor of Rutsiro District, said that the incident happed during heavy rains which were followed by thunder that could not be handled by the single lightning conductor on the Island.Most parts of the country are facing heavy rains after a prolonged dry spell in recent months. According to United States’ Agency the National Aeronautic and Space Agency (Nasa), Rwanda is pegged number one state prone to lightning due to its high altitude.Jean Baptiste Nsengiyumva, the director of disaster research and public awareness at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees Affairs, said that all areas in Rwanda are at a risk of lightning though some like Rutsiro, Nyamasheke and Rulindo have the highest intensity and frequency of lightning.He said that due to this there are measures put in place to mitigate the hazard and impact caused by lightning.“Lightning is a threat in this season but we are increasing public education on lightning, raising community disaster awareness on how to behave during heavy rains with storm and lightning and urging community to put lightning conductors on their buildings,” he said.Message to the publicNsengiyumva also said people should to know that disaster management is everybody’s business. He added that people have to change traditional beliefs that lightning is caused by witchcraft.“They have to respect existing guidelines on lightning prevention. They should even report the incidence immediately,” he said.Basing on the forecast of Rwanda Meteorological Agency (RMA), the ongoing rains are expected to reach January.