Death toll rises to at least 50 in Somalia from once-in-a-century flooding

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Somali women walk through floodwater during heavy rains in Mogadishu, Somali. The Associated Press/Farah Abdi Warsameh

Death toll rises to at least 50 in Somalia from once-in-a-century flooding

Nearly 700,000 Somalians have been displaced, according to Mohamud Moalim Abdullahi, director of the Somali Disaster Management Agency. Heavy rains are predicted for Somalia through Thursday, which could cause more death and destruction.

Why has the flooding been so catastrophic? Somalia has recently experienced its worst drought in 40 years. Severe droughts can harden soil and lessen water absorption levels. When it does rain, the water has nowhere to go. The high amount of rainfall is due to El Niño. It has affected other countries in the Horn of Africa, including Kenya and Ethiopia.

Dig deeper: Read Onize Ohikere’s report in WORLD Tour about the deadly drought in Somalia earlier this year.