Sudan declares red alert as deadly floods, landslides kill thousands, displace thousands
On Monday, the country’s Irrigation Ministry warned residents in Khartoum, River Nile, White Nile, Sennar, and Blue Nile states to remain cautious, saying the swelling rivers could destroy homes and farmland.
Sudan’s government has declared a red alert in five provinces as rising waters on the Nile and its tributaries threaten widespread flooding.
On Monday, the country’s Irrigation Ministry warned residents in Khartoum, River Nile, White Nile, Sennar, and Blue Nile states to remain cautious, saying the swelling rivers could destroy homes and farmland.
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Flooding along the Nile is a recurring seasonal risk in Sudan, where heavy rains upstream often cause sudden rises in water levels that damage crops and displace communities.
On August 28, at least 14 people were confirmed dead—10 in River Nile State in the northeast and four in Sennar State in the southeast. More than 1,000 people were displaced, while over 150 houses were flattened.
Several villages also reported widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings and power outages.
The deadliest incident occurred days later in Central Darfur.
On August 31, torrential rains triggered a massive landslide that buried the village of Tarasin in the Marra Mountains. According to government officials and aid agencies, the entire settlement was swept away, killing more than 1,000 people.
Houses destroyed
By September 1, media reports indicated that at least 32 people had been killed—23 of them in River Nile State—and around 4,000 people were displaced. More than 2,000 houses were destroyed as rains continued to lash vulnerable regions.
Meteorologists warn that heavy rainfall is expected to persist over southern and central Sudan in the coming days, fuelling fears of more floods and landslides.
Humanitarian agencies have appealed for urgent assistance as communities across several states grapple with destroyed homes, ruined farmland, and the heightened risk of waterborne diseases.
"In Sudan, heavy rains are making it harder to deliver aid. Roads are impassable and our trucks are getting stranded, delaying the delivery of life-saving food to families who need it most," the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan said in a statement last week.
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