New Details Regarding the “Arbat” Disaster
*Events – Follow-ups:*
The death toll from the collapse of the Arbat Dam, which is the primary source of drinking water for Port Sudan in eastern Sudan, has risen, amid warnings of a halt in water supplies.
Sudanese authorities intensified rescue efforts for dozens of people who sought refuge in the mountains after the dam collapsed on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses told “Sudan Tribune” that “rescue teams found the bodies of 13 people amid ongoing searches for dozens of missing persons using a helicopter and civil defense teams.”
They reported that the dam’s floodwaters inundated at least 15 villages, while about 30 others were partially damaged.
Witnesses mentioned that more than 170 people were injured in the villages of Kalasib, Mahnib, and Tabut in the Arbat area, confirming the continued tallying of victims, with activists in each village collecting information about the number of dead and missing persons.
The Director General of the Ministry of Health in the Red Sea State, Ahlam Abdel Rasul, told “Sudan Tribune” that seven people died, and 100 families were stranded on the other side of the collapsed Arbat Dam.
The official warned of potential health issues, including the proliferation of disease vectors in the Arbat area, which already suffers from epidemics and viruses, along with increased cases of diarrhea and cholera. Additionally, water contamination from organic and inorganic waste poses a threat to the residents.
