New Delhi, India: Sudan’s health ministry on Monday said that a dam has been collapsed due to heavy rainfall in the eastern Red Sea state. According to local media, dozens of people are missing.
“The Arbaat dam has been collapsed and resources had been deployed in the area to help the people who had been stranded,” said the ministry in a statement.
The dam, which is 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the city of Port Sudan, is one of the country’s many dams that help it manage its seasonal floodwaters. The two upper branches of the Nile river meet in the country. The dam burst on Saturday night following heavy rains, according to local media reports. Information has been difficult to gather in the area due to mobile network outages.
The statement said at least four people had died in the floodwaters from the dam collapse, but did not give an estimate of how many were missing. However, a local official told the Sudanese news site Al-Tagheer that he believed there to be at least 60 dead and many more missing. Amr Eissa Taher, the head irrigation official for the Red Sea state, said the damage was extensive.
Sudan has been roiled by a 16-month conflict and devastating floods. Aid officials say it is in the midst of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
With AP inputs
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