Some 200,<> people have been displaced by the flooding of the Shebel River (central Somalia) as a result of heavy rains, a regional official told AFP on Saturday.
Residents of the town of Beledweyne in the Hiran region were forced to leave their homes after heavy rains caused water levels to rise sharply, carrying their belongings over their heads as they walked through flooded streets seeking shelter.
Local official Ali Osman said the number of displaced people "could rise at any time", stressing that the authorities were doing their best to help those affected.
Hassan Ibrahim, deputy governor of the region, said on Friday that three people had been killed by the floods.
Somalia has been suffering from heavy rains for several days (Reuters)
Flood after drought
The disaster follows a record drought that has brought millions of Somalis to the brink of famine at a time when the authorities are facing an insurgency by Islamist militants.
According to the same agency, East and Central Africa often experience extreme weather conditions during rainy seasons.
Earlier this month, 135 people were killed and more than 9,<> displaced after heavy rains hit Rwanda, causing flooding and landslides in many parts of the country.
More than 400 people were killed by torrential rains, floods and landslides last week in eastern DRC.
Experts say extreme weather events are occurring at an increasing frequency and intensity due to climate change.