A dam collapse in eastern Sudan has claimed at least 60 lives amid severe flooding caused by torrential rains, Bloomberg reports, citing local media reports.
The incident comes as a humanitarian crisis is engulfing the North African nation, which is grappling with the devastating effects of a civil war that has persisted for over a year, driving the country toward famine.
The Arbaat Dam, a crucial reservoir that supplies fresh water to the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, failed under the weight of relentless rainfall. According to the Altaghyeer news website, many people are still unaccounted for after the collapse. Eyewitness accounts describe widespread destruction, with flooding demolishing homes, sweeping away vehicles, and forcing residents to evacuate to elevated areas for safety.
According to the United Nations’ humanitarian office, heavy rains and flooding throughout the summer have already displaced some 317,000 people in Sudan and led to at least 39 deaths. The ongoing crisis is further exacerbating a recent choleral outbreak in the country, where violence between the military and a rival militia has been escalating since April 2023.
As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, calls for international assistance grow louder, according to the report.
