Floods
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Ethiopia - Flooding continues in several regions, displacing thousands and threatening food security

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Tue, 16 May 2023 18:29 UTC

Floods in the Somali Region in Ethiopia, May 2023

The United Nations reports that continued flooding in Ethiopia has caused widespread destruction and displacement in the regions of Somali, Oromia, SNNP (Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples'), South West and Afar. Over 90 fatalities have lost their lives.

In early April this year, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) reported flooding and heavy rain affected or displaced around 240,000 people in Somali, Oromia and Afar regions from mid-March, with 29 fatalities reported. Flooding has worsened since then, causing significant damage and displacements. According to the latest UN report, around 190,000 households have been affected by flooding across the country, with over 200,000 people forced to leave their homes.

The flooding has deepened the vulnerability of populations whose resilience is already highly affected by the impact of a prolonged drought since 2020 as the areas most affected by flooding and drought overlap, UN OCHA said.

Heavy rains caused floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo Times
Tue, 16 May 2023 17:24 UTC

Currently, there is an extraordinary hydrological situation in the area of the Una and Sana river basins, as was forecast in the Notification on the forecast of an extraordinary hydrological situation from May 12.

The levels for the start of notification have been reached at all hydrological stations that are defined by the Federal Operational Plan for Flood Protection, the Agency for the Sava River Water Area announced.

During the day, new precipitation is expected in the area of the Una-Sana Canton. However, according to the results of simulations of prognostic systems, the water level is expected to stagnate during the day and decrease in the evening in the upper and middle parts of the Una basin.

Croatian army steps in as heavy rains flood homes, roads and schools

Dudley News
Tue, 16 May 2023 17:14 UTC

Rescue teams and hundreds of soldiers were deployed on Monday to help people in parts of Croatia hit by floods.

Heavy rain in recent days caused some rivers to overflow their banks, flooding homes, roads and public buildings in some towns.

Classes in the town of Obrovac were cancelled after water got into the schools there.

Parts of the town were left without electricity, and water covered the centre of Obrovac. In nearby Gracac, about a dozen people had to move to upper floors or evacuate their homes to avoid surging water.

Evacuations and road closures due to flooding in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Herald Live
Sun, 14 May 2023 11:21 UTC

Good rains fell in Nelson Mandela Bay over the weekend

The heavy downpour in Nelson Mandela Bay has caused flooding in parts of the city, forcing the municipality to relocate some residents and close roads as a precautionary measure.

Though some residents affected by the floods are refusing to be moved to safer areas, the city said it remained on high alert.

Safety and security political head councillor Lawrence Troon said the municipality would continue to monitor the situation.

Flooding in Somalia displaces 200,000 people

VOA
Sat, 13 May 2023 11:04 UTC

© AFPWomen walk through floodwater in Beledweyne, Somalia, May 12, 2023. The Shabelle River burst its banks in Beledweyne, forcing thousands of people to abandon their homes, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Around 200,000 people have been displaced due to flash flooding in central Somalia, a regional official told AFP Saturday, as the Shabelle River burst its banks and submerged roads.

Inhabitants of Beledweyne town in the Hiran region were forced out of their homes as heavy rainfall caused water levels to rise sharply, with residents carrying their belongings on top of their heads as they waded through flooded streets in search of refuge.

"Some 200,000 people are now displaced due to the Shabelle River flash floods in Beledweyne town and the number may increase any time. It is a preliminary figure now," said Ali Osman Hussein, deputy governor for social affairs in the Hiran region.

Arkansas sees flooding, damage after heavy amounts of rain - up to 9 inches

Corry Evans
cbsaustin.com
Fri, 12 May 2023 13:32 UTC

Rain drenched many parts of Arkansas and left significant damage in its wake on Thursday morning.

In Conway, a 600-year-old tree collapsed on a home, the city said on social media.

The resident was rescued by the Conway Fire Department with no injuries reported.

In Hot Springs, several streets were submerged, with a boat and the dock it was tied to floating in the middle of Lake Catherine.

Best of the Web: California's 'ghost lake' reappears after sodden winter

Gabrielle Canon
Guardian
Fri, 12 May 2023 13:57 UTC

Nasa satellite images show the progression of flooding in the Tulare Lake basin.

New satellite images released from Nasa this week showcase the dramatic reappearance of California's Tulare Lake after water swallowed swaths of land across the state's agricultural center that had long been dry.

Taken between the start of February and the end of April and colored artificially to help distinguish the water from vegetation and bare ground, the images highlight the scale of the transformation across the region still grappling with the aftermath of this winter's heavy rains and snow.

This isn't the first time the "ghost lake" has caused widespread flooding, but the onslaught of weather whiplash wreaked havoc on residents, agricultural workers and farms - and it's far from finished.

Tucked against the Sierra Nevada's white-capped peaks, the region will have to reckon with surges of snowmelt filling its waterways as the weather warms. On Thursday, the snowpack in the southern Sierra was 436% of normal for this time of year, according to California's department of water resources (DWR).

Sierra Leone - 7 fatalities after floods hit Freetown

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Thu, 11 May 2023 12:09 UTC

Floods in Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 2023.

At least 7 people have lost their lives after storms and heavy rain caused flooding and mudslides in parts of Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone in West Africa.

Stormy weather hit the city from 09 to 10 May 2023. Flash flooding swept through city streets, washing away cars and damaging buildings. Six people died and 2 were injured when a wall collapsed due to flooding in Cline Town. Another fatality was reported after a mudslide in the Moyeiba area of the city. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) also reported flood damage to the Leone Oil Facility in Kissy.

Sierra Leone Red Cross Society were providing support to affected communities Cline Town, including first aid services and psychosocial support for affected families.

Heavy floods, landslides in Yemen kill at least 24

Saeed Al-Batati
Arab News
Tue, 09 May 2023 12:50 UTC

Torrential rain and flooding has killed at least 24 people in Yemen since the beginning of May, with the country's National Meteorological Center on Tuesday issuing a new warning to Yemenis against traversing watercourses.

The meteorological center in Sanaa forecast rainfall across the country's central and northern highlands in Saada, Hajjah, Dhamar and other regions, advising residents to avoid traveling through and staying in flood courses. The same center issued a similar warning about excessive rainfall, inundation and landslides in mountainous regions of the country.

The warnings come as local media and villagers claim that heavy rains triggered severe floods that killed at least 24 people and washed away farms, residences and vehicles. Other local media reports place the death toll from flooding since the beginning of the month at more than 40.