BAMAKO: At least 23 people have been killed in flash floods caused by torrential rain in the Malian capital Bamako, a government official said yesterday.
Thousands were also made homeless as the Niger river burst its banks, destroying around 100 houses in several hours of heavy rain on Wednesday in the city of around two million people, said Alassane Bocoum, the national director of social development.
“There have been 23 people killed,” he said, adding that all had been identified.
The worst damage was done to poorly constructed mud-brick homes on drainage sites on the banks of the river, although residents reported concrete homes had also been battered by the raging floodwaters.
“A monitoring group has been set up to get people to abandon homes built largely of dried mud that could collapse,” Bocoum said, adding that the serious flooding had been confined to the capital.
Flooding often leads to widespread displacements and casualties during west Africa’s June to October rainy season, as well as disease outbreaks due partly to poor sanitation.
Entire streets and several bridges across Bamako were submerged, and motorcyclists and pedestrians found themselves suddenly caught up in rising floodwaters. AFP
