PORT SUDAN: At least 132 people have been killed in Sudan as a result of flooding and heavy rains this year, the health ministry said Monday.
“The total number of affected states is 10 states, while the number of affected families rose to 31,666 families and individuals to 129,650,” it said in a statement. “The total number of deaths reached 132.”
A dam collapse in Sudan’s eastern Red Sea state has caused severe flooding, with local media reporting dozens missing. The Arbaat dam burst late Sunday, inundating nearby homes.
The ministry said that the Arbaat dam had collapsed and that resources had been deployed to the area to help the people who had been stranded.
The health ministry confirmed at least four deaths, though local officials estimate up to 60 fatalities.
The Sudanese news outlet Medameek, citing the air force, reported over 100 people missing and noted that many villagers have sought refuge on higher ground.
The dam, located 40 kilometers north of Port Sudan, is crucial for supplying drinking water to the city. The area has been hit hard by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has devastated infrastructure and healthcare.
The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, has triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, with over 10.7 million people displaced and more than 2 million fleeing to neighboring countries.
A cholera outbreak, exacerbated by flooding and inadequate sanitation, has killed at least 28 people and affected over 650 individuals.
The World Health Organization has initiated a cholera vaccination campaign, reaching over 50,000 people, with additional vaccine doses soon to be distributed.
