The port city of Aden, Yemen, was hit by devastating flash floods after torrential rain on 21 April. According to Yemen Meteorological Services, as much as 125mm of rain fell in Aden in 24 hours.
The damage was significant, with streets turned to rivers and flood water sweeping away vehicles and people. Buildings, homes and infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed. At least 10 fatalities were reported as of late 21 April, with around 30 people injured.
Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik said via Social Media that the government has declared Aden an “area of disaster” due to damages caused by the floods.
This is the second major flood event to hit Aden in the last 4 weeks. At least 2 people died and 4 were injured after flash flooding struck in the city on 25 March, 2020 when over 75mm of rain fell in 24 hours in the city.
Heavy rain in mid April also caused severe flooding in Sana’a and Marib.
In a recent report, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen said flooding in mid-April caused casualties and severely damaged IDP sites and private property in Ibb and Hajjah, as well as Sana’a and Marib, with over 8,000 families affected.
Social Media
#Yemen: Heavy rains and flooding in mid-April caused casualties and severely damaged IDP sites and private property in Sana’a, Marib, Ibb and Hajjah.
Learn more about the needs and humanitarian response in our flash update: https://t.co/hHPAnVsXC4 pic.twitter.com/Ez2PiE7tz5
— OCHA Yemen (@OCHAYemen) April 21, 2020
حجم الخراب والخسائر التي تطال مدينة عدن بفعل المنخفض الجوي هائلة، عدن مدينة منكوبة، ندعو الدول الشقيقة والصديقة ومنظمات الإغاثة إلى مد يد العون ومساعدة الحكومة في مواجهة هذه الكارثة واحتواء اثارها المدمرة على حياة وممتلكات المواطنين.
— د. معين عبد الملك (@DrMaeenSaeed) April 21, 2020
More photos from #Aden today. #Yemen. pic.twitter.com/co4nrhM8C9
— Ahmad Algohbary (@AhmadAlgohbary) April 21, 2020
Heavy rains & flooding have affected displaced Yemenis across #Yemen – from Sana’a, to Marib, to Aden.
Many families lost their shelter, and everything they own.
UNHCR is providing emergency response to hundreds of families with tents, mattresses and blankets. pic.twitter.com/7oiIwZmhFD
— UNHCR Yemen (@UNHCRYemen) April 22, 2020
Aden torrential rains . #Aden #Yemen pic.twitter.com/qHExT2sjBJ
— Mohammed al-Qadhiمحمد القاضي (@mohammedalqadhi) April 21, 2020