Ivory Coast: deadly floods in Abidjan

Heavy rains have caused flooding in many areas of the Ivorian economic capital. These rains left at least one dead, a 6-year-old girl, several injured and numerous property damage. The districts of André Château d'Eau, Abobo-Belleville and even the Riviera Palmeraie were affected.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Abidjan, François Hume-Ferkatadji

In the Riviera Parlmeraie district, it's time for a big cleaning. Minister Street is littered with litter carried by the torrents that flowed over the weekend. Craters filled with brownish waters have formed throughout the neighborhood. The houses are still muddy.

Each year, during the rainy season, the inhabitants of Riviera Palmeraie experience rising sea levels. Some have experienced five floods in recent years ... In this house, the furniture has been stacked on top of each other. “  When it rains, as the gutters are blocked, the water overflows. It has been around for a long time, but it is the same thing again, it is repeated.  "

Work has been undertaken to widen the pipes, but they have lagged behind, recalls Serikpa Zokou Andre, president of the owners and co-owners union. “  Whenever the skies darken, people in the area are on the alert. Some executives even climb on the roofs so as not to be surprised by the river water. They prefer to be wet rather than being carried away by the waters towards the lagoon. This street has experienced slowness in the execution of the works, and we do not know why!  "

The government has set up several emergency numbers. The rain should continue to fall all this week. The meteorological agency Sodexam warns: "  The risks of floods remain high  ".

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• Ivory Coast
• Natural disasters