Sudan’s capital paralysed by torrents, floods

Torrential rains and ensuing floods paralysed daily life in large parts of Sudan’s capital of Khartoum on Wednesday. The heavy rainfall on Wednesday that continued from 1am until two pm, led to the destruction of hundreds of homes. The Governor of Khartoum State issued a “high alert”, as weather forecasts warn for a continuation of the rains for another two weeks. Schools are officially closed until 10 August. A resident of the Ombadda district in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, reported to Radio Dabanga that the rains, and in particular the ensuing floods led to the destruction of more than two thousand houses in Ombadda, Dar El Salam, and El Fitihab. “The families are now living in the open, having lost most of their possessions.” He added that many people hold the Khartoum State government responsible for the damage, as “the cleaning of the water drains has been neglected again, even after the floods in August last year”. “All the gutters are still filled with rubbish.” Engineer Malik Bashir, of the Rainy Season Emergency Room of Khartoum State, told Radio Dabanga that according to initial reports, more than 250 homes in Omdurman’s El Salha district, and 150 in Ombadda were affected by the downpours and flash floods. In the southern part of El Gezira State, heavy rains during the past two days have isolated 15 villages in Arab, Wad Rabeea, and Gita El Hosh. Kambal Hassan El Mahi, the Commissioner of El Gezira South locality said that all forces in the state have been mobilised to rescue the villages. Abdel Baset El Dikheiri, the Commissioner of El Gurashi locality in El Gezira State, announced that 114 houses, and a number of government buildings had collapsed in the locality. News photos above and below: Omdurman, 30 July 2014 (Radio Dabanga correspondent) Related:Torrents, floods across Sudan; 800 homes washed away in Central Darfur (27 July 2014)Sudan Minister: 40,000 households affected by rains (16 August 2013)