Death toll from Sudan floods rises to 132 after dam collapse
The death toll in Sudan has climbed to 132 following severe flooding caused by heavy rains and the collapse of the Arbat Dam, authorities reported late Monday.
An emergency government committee confirmed that the flooding has affected 10 provinces, with the number of impacted families rising to 31,666, affecting a total of 129,650 individuals. The committee further reported that 12,420 homes have been completely destroyed, while 11,472 others have suffered partial collapse.
The flooding, which began on Saturday, inundated the Arbat area north of the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, leading to the catastrophic failure of the Arbat Dam. The dam's collapse washed away entire villages, forcing hundreds of residents to flee to nearby mountain peaks to escape the floods. Many others remain trapped in affected villages, according to local reports from the Sudanese daily Al-Taghyeer.
The Arbat Dam, constructed in 2003 to collect rainwater for use during the dry season, has not undergone regular maintenance in several years, contributing to its failure amid the recent heavy rains.
Authorities are continuing to assess the full scale of the damage as rescue and relief efforts are underway in the hardest-hit regions. (ILKHA)