SANAA: At least 45 people were killed after torrential rains triggered flash floods in Yemen in recent days, according to tolls given on Wednesday by a United Nations agency and local officials. The devastating floods have compounded the already dire humanitarian situation in the country.
The floods have been particularly severe in the southwestern province of Taez and the Houthi-held Hodeida region. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 15 people were killed in Maqbanah, Taez, as a result of flash floods on Friday.
In Hodeida, local governor Mohamed Qahim confirmed that 30 persons lost their lives and five are still missing. Additionally, more than 500 people have been displaced by the floodwaters.
The flooding has led to significant damage in the affected areas. In Taez, the floods impacted approximately 10,000 people, burying 80 wells, destroying farmlands, and damaging homes. The disaster has also swept away more than seven vehicles. In Hodeida, the destruction included several homes and vehicles.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization had previously warned that Yemen was facing heavy rainfall, with predictions of up to 300 mm of cumulative rainfall across the Central Highlands and Southern Uplands, with the highest intensity expected on August 7th. The torrential rains have caused widespread disruption and damage since late July.
Earlier reports from July 28 indicated that flooding in the northern, Saada governorate had killed three people, including a child. The flooding also destroyed over 1,000 homes for displaced people and affected around 2,000 families, according to OCHA.
