Deadly flash floods hit Sudan, damaging or destroying more than 2 300 homes

Widespread flooding hit Sudan over the weekend, leaving more than 2 300 homes damaged or destroyed and at least five people dead. The worst affected province was the Blue Nile, where heavy rainfall lashed about 1 200 houses and caused the collapse of the Bout dam.

In North Darfur, up to 125 mm (5 inches) of rain inundated the area on August 1, damaging or destroying dozens of houses around Al-Laite.

In the town of Bout, which has a population of 100 000 people, heavy rains led to the collapse of a dam. Local official Nusaiba Farouk Kalol told the Associated Press that at least 600 families were stranded amid flooding.

At least 1 200 houses were destroyed in the area, according to the Sudanese Red Crescent. 

"The water surrounded them. There was no access to those families as the water flooded the area from three directions," said Kalol, adding that a massive wave of displacement is underway.

More than 120 homes were also hit in the nearby town of Wad Abuk. In the capital Khartoum, floodwaters infiltrated around 1 000 houses, interior minister Lt. General al-Tarifi Idris stated.

At least 2 380 houses were affected across the country, said Idris. More than two dozen schools and mosques were also damaged, as well as 78 shops and storehouses.

At least five fatalities were reported– four of which were due to collapsing houses, while the fifth died due to drowning in floodwaters.

In 2019, flooding claimed the lives of 78 people in 16 of Sudan's 18 provinces, between July and August.

Featured image credit: Sudanese Red Crescent Society