Ivory Coast government spokesman Amadou Coulibaly told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the deadly floods were caused by a “particularly heavy” rainy season that began in mid-May.
“This year in particular there have been 59 deaths, even though we are only at the beginning of the rainy season,” Coulibaly said.
He said searches were underway in flood-affected areas and officials feared the death toll could rise.
Informal settlements are vulnerable to floods
Every year, Ivory Coast’s rainy season from May to late July causes floods and landslides that kill dozens of people, especially people living in less-developed areas.
Flooding in the capital Abidjan killed 10 people in just two days, the government said on Monday. Flooding remains a persistent problem in Abidjan.
Amidst rapid urban development, large informal settlements are also formed in flood-prone areas.
The government has been clearing hazardous areas in flood-prone areas for several years through eviction and demolition campaigns.
Spokesman Coulibaly said there had been no deaths from flooding so far in areas “where residents have followed government safety instructions and have agreed to relocate”.
He said 20 people were killed in the Atecube neighborhood of Abidjan, where some victims had returned to previously cleared areas.
The floods also caused deaths in neighboring Ghana, with entire buildings and roads in Accra submerged.
Deadly floods are common in parts of Africa, one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to extreme weather events. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the continent is responsible for only a small portion of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Edited by: Rana Taha