At least several people have been killed or injured after torrential rains and flash floods submerged parts of Senegal’s capital, Dakar, and affected other regions of the country.
The Ministry of Interior confirmed the casualties as heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding and damage to infrastructure on Monday.
In Matam, a 25-year-old woman and her four-year-old child died after a wall collapsed during the downpour.
Some areas recorded more than 140 millimetres of rain in a single day, overwhelming drainage systems and disrupting transportation.
The flooding comes just weeks before Senegal is scheduled to host the Youth Olympic Games, which are due to begin on October 31.
Authorities have warned residents that more heavy rainfall is expected in the coming days and urged people in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed condolences to the families of those who died and said the government had mobilised resources to strengthen monitoring and emergency response in areas at risk of further flooding.
Officials are continuing to assess the extent of the damage as efforts get underway to respond to affected communities and restore disrupted infrastructure.
