Severe floods leave at least 50 dead, thousands of homes destroyed, Sudan

Thousands of homes were destroyed and at least 50 people have been killed in severe floods affecting Sudan over the past 10 days. Flooding has affected 25 localities in 16 of Sudan's 18 states. Catastrophic health conditions are expected if authorities do not intervene.

Authorities said August 15 a total of 9 260 homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed. 595 were completely destroyed and 3 317 severely damaged. In addition, over 120 public buildings, mosques, schools and health centers have also been damaged.

Thousands of people are stranded in the Red Sea state where heavy rains in Khor Baraka flooded parts of the Tokar – Port Sudan road. There are fears the road will be washed away before rescuers reach more than 600 families still stranded in villages south of Tokar Delta.

Capital Khartoum recorded 155 mm (6.10 inches) of rain on August 9, resulting in three deaths and at least 436 collapsed homes. Another wave of heavy rain and floods hits the capital on August 15, destroying another 5 224 homes in the districts of Mayo, El Salam and Ed Hussein. According to Radio Dabanga, there are significant, but uncounted, losses in other districts.

White Nile state floods on August 15 destroyed more than 1 200 homes.

Coordinator of the neighborhood committees in the southern belt of Khartoum ​warned against 'catastrophic health conditions' if the authorities do not intervene. He further called on the authorities to extend the suspension of school classes in the southern belt until the situation has improved.

Featured image credit: Mahmoud Abbaker Suleiman @MahmoudAbbakerS