Tragic Dam Collapse in Sudan Causes Devastation and Displacement

Tragic Dam Collapse in Sudan Causes Widespread Devastation

A catastrophic dam collapse occurred in Sudan near the Red Sea on Sunday, unleashing torrents of water that inundated nearby communities, resulting in an uncertain number of fatalities and injuries, according to local and international officials. This disaster has compounded the suffering in a nation already grappling with the devastating effects of war and famine.

The Arba’at dam gave way after several days of relentless heavy rain, releasing a massive wave of water that stranded numerous villagers, as reported by the Federal Ministry of Health. The exact death toll remains unclear; however, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated in a statement on Monday that local authorities have confirmed at least 30 fatalities, while suggesting that the true figure may be significantly higher. A local news outlet, Medameek News, reported on Monday that over 10 lives were lost in the calamity.

According to OCHA, the dam was a crucial source of fresh water for Port Sudan, the country’s de facto wartime capital, situated approximately 25 miles to the southeast. Additionally, the dam is located over 530 miles from Khartoum, the capital city, which lies inland. Preliminary reports indicate that the collapse led to the complete draining of the dam’s reservoir, severely damaging around 20 villages downstream. Authorities have reported that up to 50,000 individuals were adversely affected in areas west of the dam.

OCHA also highlighted that damage to communication networks has severely hampered efforts to gather more precise information regarding the extent of the disaster. Eyewitness accounts and footage shared by the Saudi news outlet Al Hadath depicted massive torrents of muddy floodwaters sweeping through local communities, although these videos have yet to be independently verified. A clip from a local television news station also showed vehicles partially submerged in deep mud, illustrating the chaos of the aftermath.

Since June, heavy rainfall and floods have impacted approximately 317,000 people across 16 states in Sudan, displacing around 118,000 individuals, according to a separate OCHA report released on Sunday. The country has been in turmoil since April 2023, when violent clashes erupted between factions supporting rival generals vying for control. The ongoing conflict has displaced millions and left many facing starvation, prompting experts to declare a rare famine in Sudan’s Darfur region earlier this month.

In the wake of the dam collapse, residents waded through muddy waters, facing the stark realities of their new circumstances, as depicted in images circulated by Agence France-Presse. The situation remains dire as recovery efforts and relief measures are urgently needed.

Contributors: Abdalrahman Abdo reported from Port Sudan.