Devastating Floods in Northern Yemen Kill 33 People and Destroy 200 Homes
A recent wave of floods in northern Yemen has brought widespread devastation, claiming the lives of at least 33 people and causing extensive damage to over 200 houses. The heavy rains, which began earlier this week and are a part of Yemen’s monsoon season, triggered severe flooding and rockslides in the Melhan district of Al-Mahwit province.
According to Ali al-Zikam, the secretary-general of the local council of Al-Mahwit province, the disaster has left a trail of destruction with 28 houses completely destroyed and another 200 homes facing structural damages. The floods also swept away five cars and several individuals are reported missing.
Yemen’s Red Crescent has launched a search operation for 38 missing persons. The agency described the situation in Al-Mahwit as “substantial,” underscoring the urgent need for assistance in the region.
This natural calamity comes at a time when Yemen is already reeling from a protracted civil war that began in 2014. Over 33,000 families across the country have been impacted by the floods since the onset of the monsoon season in mid-July.
The toll of the floods is not confined to Al-Mahwit, as the Houthis reported 86 casualties in the southern cities of Hodeida, Reema, and Hajjah provinces. The Yemeni people are facing yet another crisis, adding to the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in the region.