In 2024, the Senegal River will experience an exceptional flood, reminiscent of that of 1999. The Manantali dam reaches 208.28 meters IGN, and flow rates at Kayes could rise to 5,751 m³/s. The OMVS has issued an orange alert and recommended evacuations, while the Ministry of the Interior warns of the risk of flooding in Matam and Tambacounda.
The Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS), through a press release made public on October 13, 2024, warned of an exceptional flood underway on the Senegal River. According to the latest hydrological data, the current situation is comparable to the historic flood of 1999, with significantly high water levels and flows. The Manantali dam, essential for flood regulation, reached a critical level of 208.28 meters IGN, exceeding the normal operating level.
The flow rates recorded in the area are worrying. In Kayes, in western Mali, forecasts indicate a flow of 4,236 m³/s for October 13, with a gradual increase to reach 5,751 m³/s on October 16. The situation is similar in Bakel, in eastern Senegal where high flows are also expected, increasing the risk of flooding in riverside areas.
Faced with these data, the OMVS activated orange vigilance in all peripheral towns of the Senegal River. Flooding is possible in areas usually subject to flooding, particularly in the valley and delta. The OMVS calls on local authorities and populations to closely follow safety instructions and to prepare for possible evacuations.
The organization has put in place an alert plan, integrating the latest climate and hydrological forecasts. This plan, covering the entire river basin, includes maps of flood zones, alert thresholds by region, and a plan for disseminating information to national and local authorities as well as the media. The OMVS also reminds that the link to this early warning system is available on its website for each country concerned.
The authorities are invited to implement the necessary preventive measures to minimize the risks for local populations and to monitor the evolution of the situation vigilantly.
The Senegalese Ministry of the Interior launched an alert on October 12, 2024 concerning the risk of major flooding in several regions of the country. Alert levels have been exceeded along the Senegal and Gambia rivers. The regions of Matam and Tambacounda, in the northeast and southeast respectively, have already suffered material damage, while Saint-Louis (north) could be the next affected area.
The ministry emphasizes that the observed flow rates, the highest since 1961, are due to climate change. The government, in collaboration with the OMVS and the OMVG, is monitoring the situation closely and has put in place an Emergency Plan. Local authorities are mobilized and a pre-alert notice will be issued.
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