At least 30 dead, many missing after dam burst in eastern Sudan

The dam failure on Sunday brought widespread destruction to an area that has faced months of conflict.

“The area is unrecognizable. The electricity and water pipes are destroyed,” said Omar Eissa Haroun, head of the water authority for Red Sea state, in a message to his staff.

The full impact of the disaster is still being assessed, with reports that 150 to 200 people, including gold miners, are missing after the flood swept away their equipment.

Witnesses described the devastation as similar to last year’s flooding in Libya’s Derna, where storm waters broke through dams, destroying entire neighborhoods and killing thousands.

A Reuters reporter on the road to Arbaat saw locals burying victims, covering graves with driftwood to protect them from mudslides.

The United Nations said the flooding has affected about 50,000 people, though the number is likely higher since the area east of the dam is still unreachable.

The Arbaat Dam was a key water source for Port Sudan, which houses the country’s main Red Sea port and is a hub for aid deliveries.

With the dam destroyed, the city now faces severe water shortages. “The city is threatened with thirst,” warned the Sudanese Environmentalists Association.

The dam was already in poor condition before the disaster, with silt buildup and infrastructure problems worsened by unusually heavy rains.

Sudan’s infrastructure, including dams, roads, and bridges, has been neglected, especially since the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023.

As the conflict drains resources, essential infrastructure continues to deteriorate. The health ministry reported that some residents fled to the mountains after their homes flooded and are now stranded.

The government’s rainy season task force said that 132 people have died in floods across the country this year, with 118,000 displaced.

The conflict in Sudan started as a power struggle between the army and the RSF. Despite international efforts for a ceasefire, fighting continues, leaving half of Sudan’s 50 million people without enough food, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

(With inputs from Reuters)