A 20-year-old man was killed and three others injured when a metal drum exploded during the production of illegal kanyanga in Rwamagana District, eastern Rwanda, local authorities said.
The explosion happened on Monday night, September 14, in a forested valley in Kiryango Village, Munyaga Sector, where the four had reportedly gone to produce the prohibited alcoholic drink.
The three survivors, aged 14, 16 and 22, were seriously injured and taken to Rwamagana Hospital for treatment.
According to local authorities, the group was using a makeshift distillation system when pressure built up inside a sealed metal drum, causing it to explode.
Damascene Munyentwari, executive secretary of Munyaga Sector, warned residents against producing or consuming kanyanga, which is prohibited in Rwanda.
The incident comes as authorities intensify a nationwide crackdown on illicit alcohol production and the sale of substandard alcoholic drinks.
The government has linked illicit alcohol to deaths and serious illnesses in recent months, prompting tighter enforcement against illegal producers, traders and others involved in the supply chain.
Authorities said an investigation is under way to establish where the raw materials used in the distillation were obtained and whether other people were involved.
