At least 60 people have been killed after the Arbat dam in war-torn Sudan burst following heavy rainfall, triggering one of the worst disasters in the region. Search operations are ongoing, but officials fear the death toll could rise.
The dam, which holds 25 million cubic meters of water and is the main drinking water source for Port Sudan, collapsed in Red Sea state, washing away villages and farmland. The coastal city, also the military government’s base, now faces a severe crisis.
Sudan, already ravaged by 16 months of civil war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army, is now grappling with torrential rains and floods. The flooding has displaced tens of thousands and damaged vital infrastructure, including a major fibre-optic cable, leading to widespread communication outages.
Local residents recounted harrowing scenes as the floods swept away everything in their path. The Sudanese army has called on federal and state agencies to mobilize all resources to assist those affected.
The ongoing civil conflict and extreme weather have exacerbated the country’s humanitarian crisis, with multiple states declaring famine.
