Flash floods in Yemen kill 45 people, displace thousands

At least 45 people have been killed by flash floods in Yemen, local officials and Houthi-backed media confirmed on Wednesday.

Torrential rain hit the southwestern governorates of Hodeidah and Taiz in the country’s west on Tuesday, a frequent occurrence year due to the annual monsoon season.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen also confirmed the death toll.

The Houthi-appointed governor of Hodeidah Mohammad Qahim confirmed that 30 people died as a result of excessive rainfall, while 15 people died in Taiz, according to OCHA.

Over 500 families have also been displaced in Hodeidah, Qahim said in a statement broadcast by the Al-Masirah channel. Meanwhile, 10,000 people are reportedly affected and displaced by flooding in Taiz.

"A number of houses were destroyed due to the heavy rains, while the floods swept away more than seven cars," he added.

The governor added that the committee appointed by the Houthi-led council are holding meetings on "aid and tent deliveries to the impact families", in a bid to assist those affected.

Farmlands and homes have been damaged, OCHA confirmed, and added that access to such areas has been "difficult".

Earlier this week, UN agencies had predicted that Yemen was set to face a period of unprecedented heavy rainfall during this period, with the likelihood of damage to properties, flash floods and landslides.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation said rainfall of 300 mm across the Central Highlands and Southern Uplands was expected, with the "highest daily rainfall intensity (over 120 mm) forecasted for August 7th".

The agency warned excessive rainfall will likely damage crops, and agricultural lands in Yemen, already plagued by a years-long humanitarian catastrophe and high poverty levels.

Infrastructure will also be impacted due to poor drainage systems in urban areas, they added.

An eyewitness told the Turkish Anadolu agency that the levels of floods in the region were among the worst in "four decades".

Videos shared online showed high levels of rain sweeping through neighbourhoods, vehicles being washed away and distressed families screaming for help amid their ordeal.

Dozens are killed each year in Yemen due to floods triggered by heavy downpours, usually experienced in the summer months of July and August, but sometimes during different periods of the year.

Flood-induced casualties are exacerbated by poor infrastructure and Yemen’s status as the Arab world’s poorest country.

Yemen has been plagued by conflict and war for almost a decade after a Saudi-led coalition intervened in the country to shore up the government. Tens of thousands of Yemenis have been killed as a result, while 80 percent of the population remains dependent on international aid.