Floods in Ivory Coast and Ghana Claim 71 Lives

Recent floods in Ivory Coast and Ghana have led to a tragic death toll of at least 71 people, with 59 confirmed dead in Ivory Coast and 12 in Ghana. The floods were triggered by torrential rainfall, marking the onset of the rainy season in May, which has been one of the deadliest periods for flooding in recent years.

Amad Coulibali, a government spokesman, announced the latest casualty figures during a cabinet meeting, highlighting the particularly high death toll for this stage of the rainy season. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in several affected communities, with fears that victims may be trapped under collapsed buildings.

In Ghana, the National Fire Service confirmed the fatalities and reported extensive destruction in areas like Accra and Tema, where approximately 400 residents were rescued from floodwaters. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama noted that Accra received about 140 millimeters of rain in a single day, significantly exceeding previous records.

Experts attribute the severe flooding to climate change, exacerbated by poor drainage systems and rapid urbanization.