Four sand miners killed by flash flood in Muhanga
Muhanga — Four men were killed Thursday night after a sudden surge of water swept through a sand mining site in Muhanga District, local authorities have said.
The incident occurred late on the night of March 12, 2026, in Muhanga Sector when the men, who were digging sand for sale, were overwhelmed by a fast-moving stream carrying water, rocks and soil.
Muhanga Sector Executive Secretary Télesphore Dusabimana told journalists that the accident happened between about 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
According to local officials, the victims had been extracting sand from an area close to the Kabere River.
The men were identified as Nyandwi Alex, 34, Nkurunziza Célestin, 26, Niyodusenga Jean Bosco, 25, and Ngirinshuti Emmanuel, 29.
Three of the victims were residents of Nyamirama Cell in the Kantonganiye Village, while Ngirinshuti Emmanuel was from Remera Cell, Kiyoro Village, where the accident occurred.
Authorities say the men had gone to set up their sand extraction site when large volumes of water suddenly rushed down the stream.
“They had gone to set their trap for sand and suddenly large amounts of water came down the stream carrying stones and soil which buried them,” Dusabimana said. “One of their colleagues alerted us and when we arrived we found that the four had already died.”
The colleague who raised the alarm was identified as Zigirinshuto Florien.
Two other young men had been assisting the victims in digging and sieving the sand, which they intended to sell for income.
The bodies of the victims were later transported to Kabgayi Hospital for medical examination.
Local authorities and security officials visited the area following the incident and held discussions with residents, warning them about the dangers of illegal sand mining and urging them to take precautions against disasters.
Officials also extended condolences to the families of the victims.
Rwanda has been experiencing unusually heavy rainfall in recent weeks, which has increased the risk of flooding and landslides in several parts of the country.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and avoid risky activities near rivers and unstable terrain during the rainy season.
