Barran Press
HODEIDAH, YEMEN - At least 45 people have died in flash floods caused by heavy rains in Yemen's Hodeidah and Taiz governorates, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and local authorities.
The Hodeidah governor confirmed that 30 people perished in the floods that swept through the province on Tuesday evening. OCHA reported that the heavy rains and flash floods in the Mqabna district of Taiz governorate on August 2nd affected approximately 10,000 people and resulted in 15 fatalities.
The Deputy Minister of Local Administration for Financial and Administrative Affairs, Abdul Latif al-Fajir, has urged immediate intervention to rescue and provide aid to those affected by the ongoing rains and floods in Hodeidah. He expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in the province and called for coordinated efforts to address the disaster.
Al-Fajir highlighted the significant damage caused by the floods, including loss of life, land erosion, destruction of homes and property, and livestock deaths. He appealed to local and international humanitarian and relief organizations to swiftly intervene and provide assistance to those affected.
The Hodeidah governor described the initial losses, noting that most of the homes destroyed by the floods were simple structures built with limited resources. He also reported missing individuals, including three soldiers stationed at the frontlines, and confirmed ongoing search and rescue operations.
The governor acknowledged the limited resources available to the province, particularly in light of the control exerted by the Houthi group, which is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries. He emphasized the ongoing evacuation and rescue efforts, despite the challenges.
On Tuesday evening, Hodeidah experienced torrential rainfall, leading to the flooding of entire neighborhoods in several areas. Sources reported catastrophic conditions in the Tihama plain, with destructive floods engulfing neighborhoods, villages, and farms. The heavy rains, which began in the afternoon, have caused significant human and material losses.
Sources also confirmed that dozens of people, including children, women, and elderly individuals, were swept away by the floods on Tuesday night in the al-Ruqood area of the Zabid district, the al-Zeen village in the Qanaus district, and the al-Lawiya village in the Durihemi district.
Reports indicate that dozens of homes have been destroyed by the floods, including one that collapsed on a family, killing the parents and two women.
Sources criticized the lack of action from the Houthi authorities, which control the province, to assist the people of Tihama following the extensive damage caused by the heavy rains and subsequent flooding.
As of this report, there are no official statistics available on the number of casualties or the extent of material damage caused by the floods in Tihama. This may be attributed to the lack of media coverage of the disaster in Hodeidah.