DAKAR, SENEGAL — Senegal’s capital has been hit hard by heavy rains that exceeded 100 millimetres, flooding roads and inundating properties to residents’ dismay.
The 24-hour rainfall accumulation in Dakar-Yoff and Rufisque exceeded 138 and 142 millimetres, respectively, straining urban drainage infrastructure. Video evidence in the capital shows cars stuck in pools of water, citizens walking through flooded streets, people in flooded homes pumping out water, and rescuers using inflatable boats.
Describing the crisis, local victim Mostapha said: “People couldn’t sleep. They had to get up at 2 a.m. to clear the water out. It’s terrible, because you don’t feel that the mayor is there for us. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen them.”
Senegalese authorities have put an emergency response system in place in the Dakar region because of forecasts of more rain. They have also established a monitoring committee because severe weather conditions have caused casualties and injuries.
Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Minister of Water and Sanitation, identified the causes of the floods as small drainage networks, garbage blocking the channels, and climate disruption due to El Niño. On their side, citizens highlighted issues like rapid urbanisation and lack of infrastructure management. “Dakar is overcrowded in some ways; the sanitation is not functioning properly, traffic is a problem, so Dakar is a unique case,” said Papa Amadou Conte.
Emergency services remain deployed across affected districts as recovery efforts continue.
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[This current affairs report item is provided as part of Broadcast Media Africa (BMA)’s mandate to keep Africa’s broadcast media audiences and stakeholders informed on international developments in local and global humanitarian and public service broadcasting.]
