MOGADISHU, Somalia — At the very least seven individuals have died and main roads had been reduce off after heavy rains led to flooding in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Friday night time because of an overwhelmed drainage system and a rising city inhabitants.
The regional administration spokesperson, Abdinasir Hirsi Idle, informed The Related Press on Saturday that rescue efforts had been ongoing.
“The dying toll may rise as a result of the rains had been heavy and lasted for a number of hours, inflicting 9 homes to break down throughout totally different neighborhoods, and not less than six main roads to undergo extreme injury,” he mentioned.
Somalia has prior to now suffered excessive local weather shocks that embody extended dry seasons which have prompted drought and heavy rains which have resulted in floods.
Friday’s rains went on for about eight hours, leaving waist-high waters in neighborhoods the place some residents had been trapped and others had been compelled to maneuver to larger floor.
A resident, Mohamed Hassan, informed the AP that some older individuals had been nonetheless trapped.
“We spent the night time on rooftops, shivering from the chilly, and I haven’t even had breakfast,” he mentioned.
Floodwaters additionally broken key infrastructure, halting public transport and quickly disrupting operations on the important airport, Aden Abdulle Worldwide Airport. Officers later confirmed flights had resumed operations.
The Somali Catastrophe Administration Company has not but launched an official dying toll however mentioned evaluation was underway to find out the extent of the injury.
The nation’s power and water ministry in a press release on Saturday mentioned, “a considerable quantity of rainfall, exceeding 115 mm, was recorded in over 8 consecutive hours” and warned of flash floods in different areas exterior the capital.