Floods kill 29 in Angola

by PEDRO AGOSTO
LUANDA, (CAJ News) – FLOODS have left at least 29 people dead in Angola in recent days.

It is the latest Sub-Saharan country to experience excessive rains, attributed to climate change.

From April 4, western Angola, particularly the capital Luanda and the coastal city of Benguela, experienced heavy rainfall.

This has triggered floods and landslides, resulting in fatalities and extensive damage.

Most deaths (23) have been confirmed in Benguela.

There have been at least 17 injuries and three people are still missing.

According to aid agencies, in Benguela, 201 homes collapsed, while 6 752 homes were flooded across the provinces of Luanda and Benguela.

In total, 33 555 individuals have been affected.

Damage to vehicles has been reported in Benguela.

In Luanda, telecommunications, electricity, healthcare and educational infrastructure have been damaged.

The National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INAMET) forecasts that in the coming days, moderate rain will continue across most of Angola, with isolated periods of heavy showers.

Angola last suffered flooding at the end of February in the southern Cunene Province, bordering Namibia, which also recently experienced flooding in the Zambezia region.

The Angolan government then issued a “red danger zone” alert to the population.

At that time, 1 428 people (306 families) were affected, with 780 people (130 families) displaced.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the world’s largest humanitarian network, has appealed for CHF 249 521 (US$312 795) to intervene and reach 5 000 people until September.

It projects the rains will increase risks of atmospheric shocks, landslides, infrastructure damage and electricity cuts.

– CAJ News