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August 26, 2024 (Port Sudan) – The death toll from a dam collapse in eastern Sudan has risen to 13, officials said Monday, as rescue teams searched for dozens of missing people and authorities warned that the city of Port Sudan could soon run out of water.
The Arbat Dam, which provides most of Port Sudan’s drinking water, failed after heavy rains on Sunday, sending floodwaters and mud into nearby villages.
According to eyewitnesses, at least 15 villages were flooded and another 30 were partially damaged. More than 170 people were injured.
“Rescue teams have found 13 bodies and the search for dozens of missing people is still ongoing,” an eyewitness told Sudan Tribune.
The Red Sea state health ministry said the dam collapse had killed seven people and trapped 100 families on the other side of the dam.
Unconfirmed reports say the floods may have killed 132 people. However, the Red Sea state government has yet to make an official statement on the total number of casualties since Sunday.
The dam’s collapse has also raised concerns about disease outbreaks and water contamination.
“We expect some health problems, such as an increase in the number of vectors in the Arbat region, as well as an increase in cases of diarrhea and cholera,” said Ahram Abdul Rasoul, director of the Red Sea state health department.
Sudan’s environmentalists group said the dam collapse could leave about half a million residents of Port Sudan without drinking water.
“The dam’s current capacity can only meet less than 60 percent of Port Sudan’s drinking water needs, and Port Sudan will face the threat of severe water shortages in the coming days,” the group said in a statement.
It called on authorities to declare a disaster and launch a global appeal for aid.
Sudan has been hit by heavy rains and flooding in recent weeks, affecting more than 300,000 people across the country, according to the United Nations.
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