2019 Burundi landslides
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The 2019 Burundi landslides were a series of rapidly occurring natural disasters in 2019.[1] On December 4, 2019, less than two months after the October celebration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR),[2] heavy rains precipitated the deadly series of landslides that followed later that night into the next day,[1] affecting a total of 9,935 people in Nyempundu, Gikomero and Rukombe of the northwestern provinces of Cibitoke, bordering Rwanda, and Bubanza as well as the northeastern province of Cankuzo.[3][4][5] At least 27 people died and 10 remained missing per the December 11 human toll.[6][4] Seven injured persons were admitted into Cibitoke referral hospital, six of whom were discharged while the seventh was transferred to the Kigobe hospital managed by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders-Burundi (MSF-B).[7][6] Significant property damage was incurred as well,[8] leaving 1,081 people (551 females and 530 males) of 206 households (on average, roughly five persons per household) displaced.[6][5]
Date | December 5, 2019 |
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Time | ≈16:00 (UTC+02:00) |
Location | Cibitoke, Bujumbura, Bubanza, and Cankuzo, Burundi |
Coordinates | 2.8103°S 29.1856°E / -2.8103; 29.1856 |
Type | Landslide, flash flood |
Cause | Soil erosion and unseasonably heavy rains |
Deaths | 41 |
Non-fatal injuries | 40 |
Missing | 10 |
Another flood event happened on December 22 affecting 787 people in the northern neighborhoods in Bujumbura. As per the Burundi Red Cross Society (BRCS) Rapid Assessment, the December 22 floods disaster affected 219 households, completely destroyed 47 households, partially destroyed 40 households and submerged 132 households. 33 people were reported injured and 14 people dead.[5]