At least eight people have died and three remain missing after severe flooding struck Cape Verde’s Sao Vicente island, following torrential rains that overwhelmed emergency services and cut key roads.
Seven victims died in the floods while one was electrocuted, according to local officials.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported nine deaths and said 1,500 people were displaced.
The island, which typically receives 116 mm of rain annually, was hit with 193 mm in just five hours on Monday, more than its yearly average, as Tropical Storm Erin passed nearby.
The downpour disrupted transport, severing the main road to Cesaria Evora International Airport and causing rockfalls that blocked traffic, although the airport remained operational.
Interior Minister Paulo Rocha described the night as one of “panic and despair” as first responders struggled to cope with numerous distress calls.
Rescue and cleanup operations are ongoing, with authorities mobilising resources to restore normal life on the island as quickly as possible.
