Abu Hamad.. Death of (12) people due to Floods and Rains and Mining Waste Threatens an Environmental Disaster
Sudan Events – Follow-ups
12 people, including a child, were killed and dozens were injured due to heavy rains and floods that hit the city of Abu Hamad in River Nile state.
The torrential floods destroyed hundreds of homes in the city, which hosts the largest gold extraction centers in the country, addition to causing severe damage to the markets.
The valleys swept mining waste into the city, according to testimonies of a health expert and residents who spoke to “Sudan Tribune” on Tuesday, warning of the catastrophic situation the city is currently experiencing.
Executive Director of Abu Hamad Locality, Abdul Raouf Hassan Al-Mubarak, described the disaster in press statements as being beyond the state’s capabilities, affirming the death of 10 people due to the rains and floods.
Al-Mubarak explained that the city suffered severe damage as a large number of homes collapsed completely and some partially, and the large Abu Hamad market was also damaged.
He pointed out that the locality is working to assess the losses and try to drain the water from inside the houses.
He explained that the rains that fell on Monday and Tuesday were above average, warning the islanders of the danger of these rains and floods.
In a later statement, the Minister of Infrastructure in the state said that the rains and floods led to the collapse of 11,500 houses in Abu Hamad, addition to the killing of (12) people and the injury of (170) others.
For his part, the health expert Dr. Al-Wathiq Mohamed Mohamed Salih told “Sudan Tribune” that the heavy rains caused the valleys to flow and the sewers to fill with violent floods.
He affirmed the demolition of houses in neighbourhoods (1-2-3-4-6-7) and the neighborhoods of Al-Saleem, Al-Qouz and Al-Qalaa, addition to the destruction of large and medium markets.
Al-Wathiq explained that the greatest danger of these rains and floods is the sweeping of mining waste into the city and from there to the River Nile.
He added: “The floods swept away large amounts of mining waste, and this is a dangerous situation, more dangerous than the collapse of houses, and this is very worrying.
The floods came from mining areas.” He affirmed that the waste that mixed with rainwater and was swept away poses a danger to residents, and that these materials must be identified immediately and their impact on humans, animals and agricultural lands.
