Within the last 48 hours, heavy rains has been experienced in the upper parts have warned that heavy rainfall in the Ethiopian highlands over the last 2 days has increased levels of the Shabelle River that could mean severe floods downstream
The rainfall in Ethiopia has already resulted in flooding of the Awash River in the Afar Region of the country, displacing around 40,000 people.
In Somalia the Shabelle River levels at Belet Weyne were at critical levels at 7 metres – just 30cm below flood stage, according to Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM).
Further heavy rain over the next 7 days is expected, which SWALIM say would mean a high risk of flooding in the lower reaches of the Shabelle River. Particularly at risk are Jowhar town and the surrounding area, where the river level currently is at full crest, and other riverine towns in the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions.
Shabelle River Floods 2013
Last year the Shabelle River floods started in late August, in and around the Middle Shabelle town of Jowhar as mentioned in the flood warning above.
The 2013 floods were a result of heavy rains in the Ethiopian highlands. Subsequent flooding lasted for around 2 months and affected an estimated 66,000 people in 33 villages.
© Abdikarin Alos/IRIN
