32 dead after dam collapses in northern Yemen as heavy rains continue

Arab Weather - At least 32 people died as a result of the collapse of a dam in Al Mahwit Governorate, northern Yemen, as a result of the continuous heavy rains that have been hitting the region for several weeks.

Ghamdan Al-Azki, director of the Malhan district in the governorate, stated that the collapse of the dam, which occurred on Tuesday evening, resulted in severe damage to 15 homes and four shops. Al-Azki explained that the search for survivors is still ongoing, while the waters of the collapsed dam swept away eight cars and caused the roads leading to the district to be cut off due to falling rocks, according to a source from the governorate’s police.

The dam is located on a hill high above the homes of citizens in Al-Qibla district in Malhan district. Meanwhile, voices have been raised calling for urgent intervention by local and international organizations and the relevant authorities to provide the necessary assistance to rescue the affected residents, retrieve the bodies, and search for the missing.

Large areas in Yemen have been witnessing heavy rains and torrential floods for weeks since the beginning of this year's rainy season in March, which has led to casualties and human and material losses in the country.

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Devastating floods hit western Yemen, leaving dozens missing

Heavy flooding caused by heavy rains in western Yemen on Tuesday night-Wednesday destroyed a number of homes and shops.

Since late July, floods caused by heavy rains in Yemen have killed 60 people and affected an estimated 268,000, according to the United Nations. Residents of governorates in western and central Yemen have been warned that heavy rains are likely to continue in the coming weeks.

The World Health Organization predicted on Monday an increase in rainfall in the coming months, with the central highlands, coastal areas on the Red Sea, and parts of the southern highlands expected to witness unprecedented levels of rainfall exceeding 300 mm.

Yemen, which has been in conflict for a decade, experiences torrential rains every year. The situation is made worse by the effects of climate change, which increase the frequency and intensity of rainfall. This month, the United Nations warned of an urgent need for $4.9 million in funding to scale up its emergency response to extreme weather events in Yemen.

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