SW News: Authorities said on Wednesday that at least 129 people had died in Rwanda and six in Uganda as a result of flooding and landslides brought on by heavy rain. They were searching for survivors who were trapped in their homes.

One video clip broadcast by the state-owned Rwanda Broadcasting Agency showed murky water flowing down an inundated road and damaging houses amid chaotic scenes following weeks of rain in the area.

The capital, Kigali, as well as the western and northern provinces, are notably hilly, rendering them susceptible to landslides during the rainy season.

Data released by the ministry in charge of emergency management last month shows weather-related disasters in Rwanda claimed the lives of 60 people between January and April 20, demolished more than 1,205 homes, and harmed 2,000 hectares of land.

President Paul Kagame said in a statement that his government was assisting those affected, including through temporary relocations. “My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the landslides and floods that occurred last night in the Western, Northern, and Southern Provinces. We are doing everything within our means to address this difficult situation,” tweeted Kagame.

Six individuals died in the southwest Kisoro district of neighboring Uganda, which is mountainous and close to the Rwandan border, according to the Uganda Red Cross.

Emergency personnel have started digging up the bodies to collect the five victims, who were all from the same family, it said in a statement.

Since late March, there have been frequent, severe downpours in Rwanda and Uganda. Other high-altitude parts of Uganda, such as Kasese near the Rwenzori Mountains, where torrential rains and floods devastated homes and forced hundreds of people to flee, have also experienced landslides.

East Africa frequently experiences flooding and landslides during the rainy season though the Horn of Africa is seeing the worst drought in decades.

Experts said that climate change is causing a rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, and Africa, which makes the least contribution to global warming, is feeling the brunt of this trend.

Local officials said at least 14 people died last month in southern Ethiopia when flooding and landslides were caused by heavy rains. Numerous homes were damaged, and hundreds of animals died.