At least 20 people have died in flash floods that hit Somalia’s Bardhere district last week, causing massive damage to infrastructure and forcing thousands to seek safer ground. The district is located on the Jubba River in the Jubaland State of Somalia. The rains mark the early start of the country’s rainy season, providing relief to areas of the country experiencing the worst drought in four decades.
Heavy rain affecting northeastern Brazil last week has caused flooding and landslides in at least 5 municipalities of Ceará State, resulting in the deaths of three people and the displacement of dozens. The landslides destroyed homes and forced residents to evacuate, while local governments have declared a state of emergency. The neighboring state of Maranhão has also declared a state of emergency for 20 municipalities.
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” has left at least 582 people dead and hundreds missing in Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius. The worst affected was Malawi where at least 476 people lost their lives and 349 are still missing, as of March 20, 2023.
Severe rainstorms hit Northern Syria from March 16 to 18, 2023, resulting in devastating floods that caused significant damage to infrastructure and agricultural land. The floods claimed at least eight lives and left many families homeless.
The death toll from the devastating flash floods in the Turkish provinces of Şanlıurfa and Adıyaman has risen to 16. These provinces were severely affected by last month’s powerful earthquakes. Heavy rainfall since March 14, 2023, has disrupted normal life, with streets and hospitals being inundated and highways collapsing.
Northern Queensland is currently grappling with major flooding, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warning of dangerously high levels in multiple rivers.
Peru has been hit hard by Cyclone Yaku over the past few days, with the country’s northern regions experiencing severe flooding and significant damage. The cyclone, which has caused at least six deaths, has been described by the director of civil defense, César Sierra, as an unusual phenomenon causing intensifying rains in the north.
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” is delivering potentially catastrophic amounts of rainfall over the Quelimane region of Mozambique as the storm stalls just 30 km (18 miles) offshore with winds of 175 km/h (110 mph). Over the past couple of weeks, heavy rains and floods in Mozambique claimed the lives of at least 117 people.
Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in Accra, the capital of Ghana, on March 7, 2023, leading to disrupted traffic, damaged roads, and casualties. As the city has been prone to flooding in recent years, officials have been discussing flood prevention measures, and President Mahama has emphasized the need for “drastic steps” to address the problem. However, with more heavy rainfall forecast over the next 24 hours, concerns remain about the potential for further damage and loss of life.
Heavy rain caused by Cyclone Yaku produced severe flooding and landslides in western Ecuador, resulting in the deaths of at least 3 people. The worst affected was Chone Canton in Manabí Province. The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (Senamhi) described Yaku as an unusual and unorganized tropical cyclone.
