MOGADISHU, Somalia —At least ten people were killed and more than 200 families displaced after heavy overnight rains caused devastating floods across Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Friday night.
The storm, which began around 9 p.m. and lasted nearly eight hours, dropped more than 115 millimeters (4.5 inches) of rain — an unusually high amount for the coastal city.
The city’s aging drainage infrastructure quickly failed, leaving entire neighborhoods submerged.
According to local authorities, nine houses collapsed in the Hodan and Waberi districts, while water surged into low-lying areas, forcing families to flee in the middle of the night.
“We are still trying to account for those missing,” said Mohamed Abdulle, a spokesman for the Banadir regional emergency response unit.
Transportation across the capital was paralyzed Saturday morning, with key roads, including the major thoroughfare to Aden Abdulle International Airport, blocked by debris and standing water.
Public transport services were suspended, and emergency workers struggled to reach some of the hardest-hit areas.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families and promised urgent relief. “We are mobilizing resources to assist those affected and restore vital infrastructure,” he said.
Rescue operations are ongoing. Authorities fear that the death toll may rise as more bodies could be trapped beneath the rubble or washed away in floodwaters.
