Major disaster in Sudan. Arbat dam collapse destroys 20 villages

The fall report shows the total number of affected states: 10 states, while the number of affected households has increased to 31,666 households and 129,650 individuals.

Hashnet:

Heavy rains in Sudan have killed at least 132 people. The collapse of the Arbat Dam north of Port Sudan completely destroyed 20 villages and partially destroyed 50 villages.

“The autumn report shows that the total number of affected states is: 10 states, while the number of affected households has increased to 31,666 households and 129,650 individuals,” the federal health ministry said in a statement on Monday.

“The total number of deaths has reached 132,” she added.

According to government reports, the number of houses that were completely destroyed reached 12,420, and the number of houses that were partially destroyed reached 11,472. Most of the damage was concentrated in the northern states and along the Nile River.

Sudan is hit by frequent torrential rains between May and October each year, causing flash floods and flooding that damage infrastructure and crops and displace entire families.

Flash floods and rainfall inundated the Arbat region overlooking the Red Sea, north of Port Sudan city, on Saturday, causing the Arbat Dam to collapse and sweeping away entire villages.

The United Nations cited local officials as saying at least 30 people were killed in the collapse of the Arbat dam east of Souda, adding that the total number since then was likely much higher.

The importance of the Arbat Dam lies in the storage of seasonal rainwater, on which Port Sudan depends for its water supply.

In response, local volunteers providing rescue to flood victims told AFP in Port Sudan that the dam collapse completely washed away 20 villages and partially destroyed 50 villages.

“The floods swept away houses and animals… People climbed into the mountains to protect themselves,” said Isa Adrub, a resident of the Arbat region.

Summer rainfall is not uncommon along the Red Sea coast, as it usually occurs between November and March.

Due to heavy rains and floods, diseases and epidemics have spread, with Sudan’s Health Minister Haitham Ibrahim announcing an outbreak of cholera on the 17th of this month, in addition to a number of other diseases.