Government spokesman Amadou Coulibaly announced the updated death toll after a cabinet meeting, saying rescue teams are still searching affected areas. He warned that the number of victims could rise as the operation continues.
The disaster extends beyond Ivory Coast. Neighbouring Ghana has also been battered by heavy rains, with at least 13 people killed after widespread flooding submerged parts of the country, including the capital, Accra. The twin disasters highlight the destructive impact this year’s rainy season has had across the West African coastline.
Flooding has become an almost annual threat in Ivory Coast, especially in Abidjan, the country’s sprawling economic capital of nearly six million people. Heavy downpours regularly trigger floods during the rainy season, exposing the vulnerability of densely populated, low-lying neighbourhoods where poor drainage worsens the impact. In 2023, the country recorded 30 flood-related deaths over three months, including 22 in Abidjan. The tragedy prompted authorities to promise quicker emergency responses and stricter action against illegal construction in flood-prone areas.
The latest disaster is likely to intensify pressure on the government to follow through on those promises and tackle the long-standing infrastructure and urban planning problems that continue to put communities at risk year after year.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah