Severe flooding caused by heavy torrential rains from August 9 to 14, 2024 has devastated Chad’s northern province of Tibesti, leaving at least 54 people dead.
Heavy torrential rains from August 9 to 14 caused severe flooding in Chad’s northern province of Tibesti, resulting in at least 54 casualties, according to local authorities.
The flooding swept away thousands of shops and vehicles, said Mahamat Tochi Chidi, governor of Tibesti province.
Most of the dead and missing are believed to be foreign informal gold miners working in the province, according to Brahim Edji Mahamat, head of a local association.
Flooding is unusual for this desert area, according to the National Meteorological Agency (NMA).
The torrential rains are a climate event that impacts this region of Chad every five to ten years, said Idriss Abdallah Hassan, head of the NMA. He added that annual rainfall in the area usually struggles to reach 200 mm (7.87 inches).
Tibesti Province is named after the Tibesti Mountains, a prominent mountain range that extends into northern Chad and southern Libya. Tibesti Province is known for its rugged terrain, including high peaks, deep valleys, and desert landscapes. The region is sparsely populated and has a harsh climate, with significant temperature fluctuations between day and night.
References:
1 Worst floods in living memory: Eastern Chad battered by heavy rain – MSF – August 16, 2024
2 Deadly floods hit Chad’s Tibesti province, killing 54 and devastating economy – Alarabiya news – August 15, 2024
3 At least 54 people killed in floods Northern Chad – Gulf Times – August 16, 2024
4 Chad – Flood (UN OCHA, NOAA-CPC) (ECHO Daily Flash of 09 August 2024) – Reliefweb – August 9, 2024