Two bodies were found in a sideroad water gutter in Gikodo, Nyarugenge, following the heavy rain and thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon.
On the same day, six people were struck dead by thunder while praying on Buzinganjwiri hill in Gakenke district.
Rwanda normally experiences heavy rains and hailstorms between January and April, which often result in the loss of lives, especially those living in high-risk zones.
Rwanda Meteorology had predicted that the early part of February is projected to see rainfall close to the long-term average across various regions. However, the latter 20 days are poised for substantially higher rainfall than usual.
El Niño conditions persisting in the Pacific Ocean are the main catalysts for this unusual weather pattern.
Regions like Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Karongi, Rutsiro, and the western areas of Ngororero and Huye Districts are bracing for the heaviest downpours, with expected rainfall ranging between 200 and 250 mm.
Other areas including the rest of Ngororero and Huye Districts, western Gisagara, eastern Kirehe, Rubavu, Nyanza, Ruhango, Muhanga, and western Kamonyi are likely to see rainfall between 150 and 200 mm.
The Northern Province, excluding the south-eastern Rulindo District, should prepare for 100 to 150 mm of rain.
Last year, it was reported that in Kigali, 27,000 families still resided in high-risk zones, where disaster always looms when it rains.
By May last year, the deaths from the floods had reached 169 lives lost since January, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.
At least 408 disaster cases were recorded in this period. These include 107 windstorm cases, 66 rainstorms, three mine disasters, 77 lightning cases, seven landslides, 13 house collapses, eight hailstorms, 29 floods as well as 98 fires.
Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have cost Rwanda over 600 lives since 2018. Approximately 30,600 houses and over 35,940ha of crops have been destroyed, according to data from the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management.