The collapse of a dam in eastern Sudan after heavy rain has seen at least 20 villages swept away in the resulting torrent of water, killing scores of local residents, according to local media, Anadolu has reported.
The Arbat Dam at the head of a reservoir that is a primary source of fresh water in Port Sudan collapsed on Monday after months of seasonal rains. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday that nearly 27,000 homes have been destroyed and up to 31,240 homes have been damaged by the rain.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the breach resulted in the dam reservoir being fully drained, causing extensive damage to life and property in about 20 villages downstream,” added OCHA. Over 317,000 people have been affected by floods and heavy rains across Sudan, with 118,000 displaced.
The Sudanese authorities said that the dam collapse and heavy floods in the country have killed at least 132 people. The authorities estimate that around 50,000 people living on the western side of the dam have been severely affected, while the extent of the impact on the eastern bank is still being assessed.
The dam was constructed in 2003 to capture rainwater for use during the dry season. However, it has not undergone regular maintenance for several years.
Sudan has been mired by fighting between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of the ruling Sovereign Council, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. According to the UN, at least 12,260 people have been killed and more than 33,000 wounded in the fighting that started in April 2023.
A humanitarian crisis continues to worsen as nearly 6.8 million people have fled their homes seeking safety in Sudan or neighbouring countries. Several ceasefire agreements brokered by Saudi Arabia and US mediators have failed to end the violence.
READ: Cholera spreads as Sudan grapples with rains and displacement