The Yemeni government declared the port city of Aden a disaster zone on April 22, 2020, after devastating flash floods caused by up to 125mm of rain in just 24 hours. On average, the city receives only about 5 mm of rain in April and about 37 mm throughout the year. Floods destroyed buildings, affecting thousands and killing at least 10 people.
The streets turned into raging rivers as water washed away vehicles, leaving extensive damage to property and infrastructure. The flooding flooded the temporary shelters of families already affected after they were displaced by the conflict in the country.
Nearly 1,000 households were affected in Sana'a province and over 5,000 in Marib. Water wells were contaminated and sewerage posed a threat to the rise in cholera. Yemen has the highest incidence of cholera in the world, with nearly a million infections and more than 2,000 deaths since 2017.
Residents fear an outbreak during the rainy season, amid the ongoing civil war, which has damaged more than half of the country's health facilities and disabled most of the clean water supplies.
At least 10 people were killed and another 30 were injured in various parts of Aden. One of the officials said that two of the victims were in the Al-Muallah area, and another five in the city of Sira.
Among the victims were three children from the same family who died when their house collapsed. The injured residents were taken to nearby medical centers for treatment.
#Aden declared 'disaster area' after deadly floods # Yemen
- Ruptly (@Ruptly) April 22, 2020
Video: - The devastating floods in Aden, Yemen.
We hope and pray # Covid19 will be the only disaster. @HarunMaruf.
- Mohamed Abdi (@mzeesiraj) April 22, 2020
Will we sleep today in the street? A woman of two children in #Aden is crying for help after her house is swept away in flood. #YemenCantWait #Yemen
- Belqees. Rights (@BelqeesRights) April 22, 2020
Aden is sinking.
Our thoughts and prayers for the people of #Aden, #Yemen.
- Ahmad Algohbary (@AhmadAlgohbary) April 21, 2020
مشهد لمحاولة إنقاذ غريق من جراء سيول الأمطار في # عدن # اليمن A video for some people trying to rescue a man during the torrential rains, flooding the city of Aden. #Aden #Yemen #yemen_trends
- Mohammed al-Qadhi محمد القاضي (@mohammedalqadhi) April 21, 2020
Aden torrential rains. #Aden #Yemen
- Mohammed al-Qadhi محمد القاضي (@mohammedalqadhi) April 21, 2020