Eight people died in landslides or because of rising waters after very heavy rains Thursday and Friday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, according to a “final” report from the firefighters published on Saturday.
The firefighters published a “situation update” of their interventions “linked to the torrential rains from Thursday June 13 at 4:00 p.m. to Saturday June 15, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.”, announcing a “final toll of 8 people dead and 18 evacuated”, in hospitals .
A previous report published Friday reported 5 deaths.
Very heavy rainfall fell on the Ivorian economic capital, particularly on Thursday afternoon, causing spectacular rising water levels, landslides and even the collapse of homes.
Precipitation was particularly heavy and approximately four times higher than normal.
In 24 hours, 214 mm of rain fell in the commune of Yopougon, and 205 in that of Cocody, according to the Ivorian meteorological agency Sodexam, or a quarter of the precipitation expected over the entire three months of the rainy season ( may June July).
The “normal” threshold defined is 50mm in 24 hours, adds Sodexam.
Torrential rains followed by devastating floods are recurrent in the largest Ivorian city where nearly six million inhabitants live.
Precarious constructions in flood-prone areas, inhabited by poor populations, are legion in this constantly growing metropolis, even if the government launched a vast sanitation policy this year, destroying many informal neighborhoods.
Last year, at least 30 people died in incidents linked to heavy rains.
