Government officials in Ivory Coast confirmed on Wednesday that at least 59 individuals have died in flooding across the country so far this year.
Amadou Coulibaly, a spokesperson for the government, stated following a Cabinet meeting that the administration “deplores the particularly high death toll” recorded in 2024, reports ABC News.
While Coulibaly did not provide a specific breakdown for the most recent incidents, torrential rainfall on Monday triggered landslides and flash floods in the capital cities of both Ivory Coast and neighbouring Ghana.
These events resulted in a minimum of 24 deaths, with several people still unaccounted for.
In the Ghanaian capital of Accra and the nearby city of Tema, the deluge submerged roads and entire buildings, isolating various districts.
Meanwhile, in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, Minister of National Cohesion Myss Belmonde Dogo reported that flooding killed more than a dozen people, with most casualties occurring in the municipalities of Yopougon and Attécoubé.
Residents living in areas identified by the government as high-risk have been urged by Coulibaly to comply with safety protocols and evacuate immediately.
According to World Meteorological Organization, such lethal floods are increasingly frequent across parts of Africa.
The continent remains one of the most susceptible regions globally to extreme weather events, despite being responsible for only a minimal portion of global greenhouse gas emissions.
