Nine Dead as Flash Floods Devastate Northern Sudan’s Al-Dammer

At least nine people have been killed after flash floods swept through Al-Dammer, the capital of River Nile State in northern Sudan, local authorities have confirmed.

The Civil Defence Authority in River Nile State said the victims died on Tuesday when sudden torrents, triggered by heavy seasonal rains, overwhelmed the city and surrounding communities.

Five neighborhoods were reported to have been completely cut off by floodwaters, while sections of the main highway linking Atbara and Khartoum around 300 kilometres to the south were submerged, disrupting traffic and relief efforts.

A senior Civil Defence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said emergency teams are working “around the clock” to rescue stranded residents and provide relief, but access to some areas remains extremely difficult.

The floods have also destroyed homes and farmland, displacing families and raising fears of disease outbreaks as water stagnates in residential areas. Health workers have appealed for urgent supplies of clean water, medicine, and temporary shelters.

Sudan’s meteorological service has issued an orange-level warning for River Nile and Khartoum states, citing a high risk of continued heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and further flash flooding.

Seasonal flooding has become increasingly severe in Sudan, with climate shifts extending heavy rains into the country’s northern desert regions.

Each year, the floods leave behind deaths, destruction of property, and worsening humanitarian conditions for communities already struggling amid prolonged conflict and economic crisis.