Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

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Newsbytes:

Ethiopia - The United Nations reports that flooding and heavy rain have affected or displaced around 240,000 people in several regions of Ethiopia since mid-March 2023. At least 29 people have died. Floods have displaced 12,500 people in Dubti, Mile, Garani, Awash and Bori Modayto woredas (districts) of lower and central parts of the Afar Region. Hundreds of livestock have perished and crops destroyed. In the Oromia region, shelters were damaged in IDP (internally displaced persons) camps set up for those affected by long-term drought conditions, affecting around 27,000 people in Dire and Dubuluk woredas. The Somali region is the worst affected area. Flash floods have affected 200,000 people in the Region’s Shabelle, Afder Liban and Fafan zones.

Kenya - Flash floods caused severe damage in Taita-Taveta County, southern Kenya, on 02 April 2023. Four people are feared dead. Heavy rain fell in hilly areas surrounding the settlement of Kironge in Mwatate Sub-County on 02 April, triggering flash floods. At least 12 people lost their lives and hundreds were displaced from their homes after storms, heavy rain and flooding affected several regions of Kenya during the last week of March 2023.

Itlay - Firefighters in Italy report one person died after a vehicle was swept away by flash floods in the Calabria Region. Stormy weather caused flash floods, landslides and wind damage in Calabria on 03 April. The worst affected areas were the provinces of Cosenza and Crotone. Schools were closed in Savelli in the Province of Crotone due to adverse weather conditions. The commune recorded 118.2 mm of rain on 03 April. Several roads were closed, blocked by floods, fallen trees or landslide debris in the municipalities of ​​Acri and Longobucco.

Indonesia - Floodwaters up to 1.5 metres deep left over 4,000 homes damaged in the Central Kalimantan Province of Indonesia. Disaster authorities in the country said heavy rain from 29 March caused the Kapuas River to overflow, triggering severe flooding in at least 14 villages in Central Kapuas District, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan. Approximately 4,166 houses have been flooded, affecting 16,234 residents. In addition, around 70 public buildings, 32 schools, and 11 health facilities were also flooded. Roads were flooded in around 70 locations.

Pakistan - As many as 11 people have lost their lives following periods of heavy rainfall in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Many of the victims died after floods or heavy rain caused homes or roofs to collapse, once again revealing the vulnerability of communities living in poor housing structures in the province. One house was destroyed, 9 were damaged, 15 people were injured and 6 killed. Most of the incidents were a result of poor housing structures collapsing. Further heavy rain from 01 to 02 April caused flash flooding in South Waziristan, where 2 people died, and in Tank districts where 135 homes were damaged. Heavy rain also caused houses to collapse in Peshawar, where 2 people died and 3 were injured. On 03 April, a house collapsed under heavy rainfall in Bajaur, killing one resident.

Latvia - Local authorities in the Augšdaugava Municipality in southern Latvia have requested a state of emergency due to severe flooding along the Daugava River and tributaries since late March 2023. Flooding has also affected several regions in neighbouring Belarus. At least 8 roads in Augšdaugava Municipality, Latvia, are underwater, leaving communities isolated and children unable to attend school. Recent rainfall and melting snow in southern parts of the country and the bordering country of Belarus caused rivers in the Daugava basin to rise from late March.

DR Congo - At least 20 people died after a landslide struck in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 02 April 2023. The disaster occurred in the village of Bulwa in the Masisi territory of the North Kivu Province. News media in the country, quoting local officials and observers, said provisional figures show at least 19 people were killed and that the search for other victims was to continue. Heavy rain has also affected South Kivu Province in recent days and road traffic linking the city of Uvira to Bukavu was suspended.