Although the rainy season has only just begun, flooding has already killed dozens in the Ivory Coast.
A house damaged by landslides in an informal settlement of Attecoube, in AbidjanImage: Diomande Ble Blonde/AP Photo/picture alliance
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A "particularly heavy" rainy season that started in mid-May has led to deadly flooding, Ivory Coast government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Coulibaly added that a "particularly high toll of 59 people who have died this year, even though we are only at the beginning of the rainy season."
Searches of flood-affected areas are ongoing, and authorities fear the toll could rise, he added.
Informal settlements vulnerable to flooding
Every year, Ivory Coast's rainy season from May to late July unleashes flooding and landslides that kill dozens, especially those living in less-developed areas.
Flooding happens every year in the Ivory Coast [FILE: Jun 19, 2024]Image: Celeste Diom/Matrix Images/picture alliance / Matrix Images
In the capital, Abidjan, 10 people were killed in floods in just two days, the government reported on Monday. Floods are a continual problem in Abidjan.
Large informal settlements also form in flood-prone areas amid rapid urban growth.
The government has been clearing out what it calls precarious neighborhoods in flood-prone zones with eviction and demolition operations for several years.
Spokesman Coulibaly said that areas "where residents have complied with the government's safety instructions and agreed to relocate" have yet to see any flooding deaths.
He added 20 people were killed in Abidjan's Attecoube neighborhood, where some victims had returned to previously cleared sites.
Floods also led to fatalities in neighboring Ghana, with entire buildings and roads submerged in Accra.
Deadly floods are common in parts of Africa, among the world's most vulnerable regions to extreme weather events. The continent is only responsible for a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
More than 200 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced by weeks of rain and flooding in southeastern Africa. The country of South Africa has declared a national state of disaster.
Image: Amilton Neves/AFP/Getty Images
State of disaster
Following flooding in the north of the country, South African authorities declared a national state of disaster on Sunday. Official figures say at least 30 people lost their lives and thousands of homes were damaged. The northern provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo were particularly affected, where floods also destroyed this bridge which crosses the Selati River.
Image: Oupa Nkosi/REUTERS
Disaster instead of Davos
For weeks, parts of South Africa and the neighboring countries of Mozambique and Zimbabwe have seen heavy rainfall. More than 200 people were killed in the three countries since the end of December, with over 100 fatalities recorded in Mozambique alone. On Monday, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo canceled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos this week due to the disaster.
Image: Carlos Uqueio/AP Photo/picture alliance
Damages amounting to millions
Rescue workers are searching for survivors in the South African province of Limpopo: according to official figures, at least 11 people have died here so far, and at least 20 in the neighboring province of Mpumalanga. The floods damaged thousands of homes and washed away bridges and roads. In Limpopo alone, the provincial government estimates the damage to infrastructure at €217 million.
Image: Paul Botes/AFP/Getty Images
Fleeing the floods
A military vehicle transports people to safety in the Boane region of Mozambique. More than 230,000 people across the country have been forced to flee the floodwaters, and authorities estimate that a total of more than 400,000 people have been affected — a figure that is likely to rise as rainfall continues unabated. Many people have been reported missing.
Image: Amilton Neves/AFP/Getty Images
Neighborhoods under water
In several regions, rivers burst their banks and flooded entire neighborhoods, as seen here in Matola, Mozambique. Thousands of people were displaced. According to information from the National Institute for Disaster Management, some people sought refuge in trees and on rooftops. Roads were flooded, and homes and fields were destroyed.
Image: Mendes Mondlane/Xinhua/picture alliance
Worst flooding in years
The World Food Program has already described this as one of the worst floods to hit Mozambique in years, and warned of far-reaching consequences: more than 70,000 hectares of farmland have been flooded, including rice and corn fields. There has also been massive damage to infrastructure, exacerbating food insecurity in a country that is already poor.
Image: dpa/picture alliance
Extreme weather scourge
Mozambique is often affected by extreme weather: located on the Indian Ocean, it is regularly hit by cyclones. According to a World Bank report, between 1980 and 2022, the country was battered by a total of 28 cyclones, 20 severe floods and 15 droughts. Climate change is also making floods in southeastern Africa more frequent and severe.
Image: Mendes Mondlane/Xinhua/picture alliance
Homes destroyed
While South African authorities continued searching for survivors and recovering bodies over the weekend, the floodwaters began to recede in some areas, revealing the extent of the destruction left behind. In neighboring Zimbabwe, rivers bursting their banks caused severe damage and forced thousands of people to flee to higher ground.
Image: Paul Botes/AFP/Getty Images
Top tourist destination under water
Around 600 people were evacuated from the famous Kruger National Park last week —the popular tourist destination had to be closed on Thursday due to flooding. On Monday, the park was reopened to day visitors. At the same time, the park administration urged visitors to exercise caution.
