The death toll due to heavy rainfall-induced floods in Somalia has surged to 96, as reported by the state news agency SONNA on Saturday.
SONNA, in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed the figure disclosed by Mahamuud Moallim, the head of Somalia’s disaster management agency.
Somalia, along with the entire eastern region and the Horn of Africa, has faced incessant heavy rains since October, attributed to the El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole weather phenomena.
These climate patterns impact ocean temperatures, resulting in higher-than-average rainfall.
Described as the most severe in decades, the flooding has forcibly displaced approximately 700,000 individuals, according to the United Nations.
The torrential downpours have triggered widespread flooding across Somalia, worsening an ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by years of conflict.
In neighboring Kenya, the floods have claimed the lives of 76 individuals, according to the Kenyan Red Cross.
Additionally, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports extensive displacement, road and bridge destruction, and severe shortages of shelter, drinking water, and food supplies affecting numerous residents.
