39 killed due to heavy rains, floods in N. Yemen

Heavy rains and floods killed at least 39 people in northern Yemen over the past 24 hours, local health authorities reported on Wednesday, reported Xinhua.

The fatalities included 30 in the province of Hodeidah and nine in Taiz, they said.

Nearly 500 families in Hodeidah have been forced to flee their homes after being trapped by rising waters, they said.

Meanwhile, Houthi media outlets reported that dozens of people were injured, and five were still unaccounted for in Hodeidah due to severe flooding early on Wednesday.

Many valleys in the region were cut off, isolating communities and hampering rescue efforts, the outlets reported, adding that the natural disaster has also inflicted severe damage on infrastructure and property.

On Friday, flash floods killed 15 people and affected an estimated 10,000 individuals in the Maqbanah district of Taiz, according to a report released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Yemen's National Center of Meteorology has issued a warning of possible continuing rainstorms across the country, advising people to keep away from flood paths.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating conflict since late 2014 when the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and large swathes of the country. A UN-brokered truce in April 2022 led to a significant reduction in hostilities, but the country has continued to grapple with severe economic challenges and political divisions.

The latest natural disaster is said to compound the challenges faced by a population already struggling with widespread poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to basic services.