Flash floods in Ethiopian capital Addis kill at least seven people

At least seven people have died in flash flooding that hit the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa after torrential rains, officials said on Wednesday.

A fire fighter stands next to dead bodies recovered from flood waters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on August 18, 2021 AFP - AMANUEL SILESHI

Images from the capital showed firefighters wading through brown water to inspect flooded houses and in one instance walking through sludge with a stretcher to remove a body.

Houses and cars were submerged by the waters following the downpour which pelted several neighborhoods of Addis Ababa on Tuesday, causing chaos.

Mayor Adanech Abiebie said on Twitter after visiting affected areas that there had been “heavy” damage caused by the flooding, but gave no further details.

በጎርፍ አደጋው ህይወታቸውን ላጡ ወገኖቻችን ቤተሰቦችና ወዳጅ ዘመዶች ልባዊ መፅናናትን እየተመኘን፣ እንደምንጊዜዉም የከተማችን አስተዳደርና ነዋሪ ተጎጂዎችን መልሶ በማቋቋም በሁለንተናዊ መልኩ ከጎናችሁ እንደሚቆሙ ላረጋግጥላችሁ እወዳለሁ።3/5 pic.twitter.com/dDXYwWmrxT

— Adanech Abiebie (@AdanechAbiebie) August 18, 2021

“I urge our residents to take the necessary precautions in the area as heavy rains are expected in the coming days, and we will intensify our efforts to increase protection,” Adanech added.

The Addis Ababa Fire and Emergency Prevention and Rescue Commission said seven people had died and that others were receiving treatment in hospital, according to state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate.

Many parts of Ethiopia receive heavy rainfall during the months between June and September. 

Last month Ethiopia completed the second phase of filling up the Grand Renaissance Dam, taking advantage of the heavy rain. 

• Ethiopia resumes filling Nile mega-dam reservoir angering downstream nations

In May 2016, at least 50 people died in floods and landslides in the south of Ethiopia.

(with AFP)