45 Dead in Yemen Floods

 Torrential floods triggered by heavy rains have resulted in the deaths of 45 people in Yemen over recent days, according to data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The UN agency reported that the severe rainfall and subsequent flooding in the Maqbanah district of Taiz Governorate have impacted 10,000 individuals, buried over 80 wells, swept away agricultural lands, and damaged homes and infrastructure.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations had predicted cumulative rainfall of up to 300 mm in Yemen's central and southern highlands during the first ten days of August, with peak daily rainfall exceeding 120 mm on August 7.

Since late July, various regions across Yemen have been experiencing heavy rainfall, resulting in floods that have disrupted the daily lives of the populace.

On July 28, OCHA reported the deaths of three people, including a child, in Saada Governorate, along with damage to over 1,000 shelters for displaced persons and nearly 2,000 families.

Meanwhile, officials and local aid sources reported that at least five civilians and four soldiers have perished in the last 24 hours due to lightning strikes and floods in several northwestern Yemeni governorates.

In Hajjah Governorate, a severe lightning strike in the Abs district resulted in five fatalities.

Sources also indicated that floods in southern Al Hudaydah Governorate swept away a vehicle carrying four government soldiers, whose bodies were recovered yesterday morning.

This raises the death toll from lightning strikes alone to 12 since the beginning of August, and to 45 people with 17 injured since early July.

Residents in Al Hudaydah have reported significant damage to homes, properties, and agricultural lands.

Floodwaters have inundated several neighborhoods in Al Mansuriyah district, Zabid city, Al Jarahi, and Bayt al-Faqih. Social media activists have circulated images and videos showing floods entering homes and sweeping away livestock and vehicles.

The National Meteorological Center had forecasted varying intensities of rain, accompanied by strong winds, thunderstorms, and flash floods in valleys and ravines across several Yemeni governorates, including Al Hudaydah.

Recent reports indicate that heavy rains and floods in Hajjah Governorate over the past 24 hours have damaged nearly 8,000 homes.

On Monday, the Yemeni government declared four districts in northern Hajjah Governorate disaster areas due to the rain and floods since the beginning of the week, affecting around 2,000 families.