Heavy rainfall hits Red Sea towns, farms

Heavy rainfall swept through parts of Red Sea state and caused damage to houses and property on Wednesday evening. Farming fields are severely affected.

Residents in Port Sudan said that the rains and floods have paralysed the city. A number of eastern and western districts of the city have been flooded and damaged.

Outside of the city, the torrents hit Arbaat, north of Port Sudan, and the area of Shidyab in Haya locality. The reportedly “major damage” to houses and properties has not yet been assessed.

Listeners said that the khor (seasonal streambed) in Arbaat flooded, which is expected to have widespread effects on the agriculture. In addition, the floods swept away a number of vehicles.

A listener told this station that people fear the Arbaat dam will collapse because of the amount of rainwater.

The last report about flooding of the khor of Arbaat dates from August 2, when one person drowned, and another was rescued from floods.

According to official statistics in mid-August, rains and flash floods during this year's rainy season have left at least 61 others injured and displaced more than 8,900 families in Sudan since July 23. Dozens of people drowned in swollen rivers in the past months. In August, 22 school children and a hospital employee drowned when a boat capsized and sank in the Nile in River Nile state.