Flood isolates Sudanese city of Tokar

August 29, 2025 (TOKAR) – The seasonal flood of the Baraka River has isolated the city of Tokar after washing away the road connecting the city to Port Sudan, the capital of Red Sea state in eastern Sudan.

Community and civil entities in Tokar, located about 166 kilometres south of Port Sudan, have issued warnings of potentially devastating floods that could engulf the city, similar to last year.

Community activist Ohaj Tilab told Sudan Tribune that the water flow in the Baraka stream cut the main road connecting Tokar with Suakin and Port Sudan, leading to the isolation of Tokar, which is now awaiting maintenance teams.

He added that local efforts on Thursday and Friday succeeded in containing the water flow and preventing it from reaching the city’s homes. However, any new high-level flows in the Baraka River’s course will put the city in a critical, and possibly catastrophic, situation, as happened last year.

Ohaj stated that community groups had submitted a rescue and emergency plan to the state government last May. He called on the government to assign a Civil Defence police team to be stationed in Tokar to closely monitor the situation.

The seasonal Baraka River, which flows from Eritrea, is now threatening to inundate Tokar after a bridge was damaged, allowing floodwaters to flow towards the city before the situation was brought under control.

Residents of Tokar fear their city could be submerged again due to the continued rise in the Baraka River’s flood levels.

Last year’s seasonal flood of the Baraka River caused significant damage in the city of Tokar.