Hailstorm, on the evening of October 1, ravaged farmers’ crops in Gakenke District following the announcement by weather forecaster predicting heavy rains for the month of October. The heavy rain lasted for six hours affecting irish potatoes, beans, banana plantations, among others, in different parts. ALSO READ: Hailstorm damages over 200 houses in Musanze “We are still assessing the losses,” Vestine Mukandayisenga, the Mayor of Gakenke District, told The New Times on Wednesday, noting that the exact size of cultivated farmland was yet to be determined. Rwanda Meteorology Agency on Tuesday said that there is an expected heavy rain in the month of October. “During the month of October 2024, rainfall ranging between 50 and 300 millimetres is expected across the country,” the weather forecaster announced. ALSO READ: Farmers affected by hailstorm decry lack of seeds The expected rainfall of between 50 and 300 millimetres will be above the long-term average [ which used to be 30 and 250 millimetres], it explained. As noted, the heavy rain will be experienced especially in the first 10 days of the month. The prediction follows delayed rainfall which was expected in September, according to Patrick Karangwa, the Director General of Agriculture Modernization in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI). ALSO READ: What next after identifying 326 major disaster hotspots? Gakenke District where hailstorm hit on Tuesday is among districts to face heavy rains. The highest amount of rainfall ranging between 250 and 300 millimetres, the weather forecaster stated, is expected in districts of Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Musanze, and parts of Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Ngororero, Gakenke and Burera. ALSO READ: Prepare for rainy season, meteorology agency says Rainfall ranging between 200 and 250 millimetres is expected in western parts of Nyaruguru, in the remaining parts of Western Province, with exception of southern parts of Rusizi and eastern parts of Karongi. It is also expected in the remaining parts of Northern Province except southern parts of Gicumbi and Rulindo districts where rainfall ranging between 150 and 200 millimetres is expected. Rainfall ranging between 50- and 100-millimetres is expected in eastern parts of Kayonza and parts of Gatsibo, Kirehe and Ngoma districts while many parts of Eastern and Southern Provinces are expected to have rainfall ranging between 100 and 150 millimetres. The remaining parts of the country are expected to receive rainfall ranging between 150 and 200 millimetres. Moderate to strong wind speed ranging between 6 and 12 metres per second is also expected across the country. Strong wind speed ranging between 10 and 12 metres per second is expected in parts of Rutsiro, Karongi and Nyamasheke Districts. Strong wind speed ranging between 8 and 10 metres per second is expected in remaining parts of Rutsiro and Karongi, in many parts of Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza and Kirehe Districts and parts of Nyamasheke, Rusizi, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Huye, Nyanza, Ruhango, Ngororero, Rubavu, Nyabihu and Burera District. Moderate to slightly strong wind speed ranging between 6 and 8 metres per second is expected to be experienced in the remaining parts of the country. At least 326 major flood and landslide disaster risk hotspots have been mapped in 18 districts of the south, west, and north provinces and the City of Kigali. Over 8,000 households comprising 39,742 people, 144 bridges and roads as well as 3,432 hectares of crops are at risk, according to a 2024 assessment. Disasters cost the country approximately $300 million in direct effects on an annual basis, according to the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA).
