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Flash floods in Yemen @ Al-Jazeera October 2008

Heavy rain and storms are causing some of the worst flash floods the Middle East has seen in decades. Rain levels in the north African country have been at their highest for 35 years during the past month, according to weather officials.

Flash floods across southern Yemen have claimed the lives of 65 people, amid warnings the death toll could rise further. The provinces of Hadramaut and Mahara were worst hit by the floods which began after a massive tropical story struck on Thursday. Flash floods have destroyed at least 1,700 houses in Mahara and Hadramaut alone and both provinces were declared disaster zones on Friday. The damage has been extensive in Hadramaut, also Yemen’s largest province, because most homes are made of mudbrick. Among the affected areas is the Unesco world heritage site of Shibam, where the area’s historic mudbrick buildings are threatened with collapse. Shibam, which was totally isolated by the flood waters, is home to more than 20,000 people and is famous for its mudbrick high-rise buildings that have given the town the nickname "the Manhattan of the desert". Local authorities have reported serious damage to roads and power and water distribution networks.

Morocco received the highest levels of rains in 30 years for the September 17-Oct 19 period, according to local disaster and weather officials. Floods ravaged the province of Nador last week end. Since the beginning of October, the Northern regions, as well as those of the South of Morocco, have experienced heavy rainfalls which have caused floods and the death of several people. Seven provinces: Essaouira, Al Houaz, Azilal, Chichaoua, Oujda, Errachidia and Zagora, were the hardest hit, with many homes submerged or damaged and roads made impassable, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. 

In Algeria, severe flooding hit the normally arid region of Bechar with heavy rain. Floods triggered by heavy torrential rains have killed 89 people, injured 50, and left many thousands homeless in and around the Algerian oasis town of Ghardaia begining of October 2008. 11,800 families are estimated to have been affected by the worst floods the region has been experiencing since decades. Eight of the 13 districts of the surrounding Ghardaia province have been affected by the floods and thousands of homes have been inundated.

Sources: Al-Jazeera - 26/10/2008; The Media Line 26/10/2008; Reuters AFrica - 24/10/2008

2008-10-26

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