14 people killed in heavy rains across Sudan
August 1, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Fourteen people were killed in various Sudanese states, mostly in the capital Khartoum, due to heavy rains and floods, which hit the country during the past two weeks.
He said on a talk show broadcasted by the state-run Radio Omdurman on Friday that Khartoum north saw 103mm of rainfall last Friday, saying this huge amount of water hit public squares, homes, and lowlands.
The minister further added that Khartoum was hit again by rain ranging from 35 to 55mm on Wednesday morning, which led to heavy floods west of Omdurman.
Weather forecast expert, Mohamed Shareef, predicted that Khartoum state will witness light rain during the week, saying the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is currently passing north of the city of Wadi Halfa in the Northern state which indicates rainfall in all Sudanese states.
One person was killed and 200 homes destroyed besides hospitals, schools, and mosques due to rain and flood which hit Al-Dabba locality in the Northern state. Heavy rains and floods had also uprooted more than 1,000 palm, mangoes, and oranges trees in the area.
Strong torrents also destroyed more than 700 homes and killed large numbers of cattle in Hamrat Alwiz area in Jabrat al-Shiekh locality in North Kordofan state. Residents had evacuated homes which are located near the riverbed.
The governor of Gazira state, Mohamed Youssef, stressed that three localities including Al-Qurashi, Al-Managil, and south Gazira were affected by the rain which hit the state during the last two weeks.
He acknowledged that his state is facing water discharge problems, saying that 30 villages in south Gazira besides Al-Quorashi area have been largely affected by the rainfall.
On Friday, journalist, Mohamed Siddiq, who worked for the Al-Sahafa daily newspaper, was killed by an electrocution in his native village in Gazira state.
The Sudanese Company for Electricity Distribution (SCED) acknowledged that 33 people were killed by electrocution during the 2013 fall season.
Heavy floods have been common in the past few years in Sudan’s east along the Blue Nile but happen more rarely in the capital and the north where much of Sudan’s population live.
Floods and rains that hit different areas in Sudan last year lead to the death of at least 38 people and injured dozens.
Rains which fell during the last week have turned Khartoum into a pond of water amid widespread anger over what is perceived as an inadequate government response.
(ST)