At least seven people, including two women and children, have been confirmed dead following catastrophic overnight flooding in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. The torrential downpour, which began late Friday and lasted more than ten hours, caused widespread destruction across multiple districts of the city, destroying homes, crippling infrastructure, and displacing hundreds.
Local authorities say the storm is one of the most intense rainfall events the city has witnessed in recent years. According to the Banadir regional administration, nine homes were completely destroyed, six major roads sustained serious damage, and more than 200 families were forced to flee their homes, seeking shelter in temporary accommodations.
‘We Have Never Seen Rain Like This’ – Eyewitness Accounts
Residents of Mogadishu woke up to scenes of devastation on Saturday morning, with entire neighborhoods submerged and vehicles stranded on flooded roads. Eyewitnesses described the flooding as unprecedented.
“I have lived in this neighborhood for over 30 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Mohamed Nur, a father of four living in the Wadajir district. “Two children from a nearby house were swept away by the water. Their parents are in shock.”
Another resident, Halima Osman, recounted how people were trapped inside their homes through the night.
“The water came so quickly and kept rising. Many people couldn’t get out. We were screaming for help,” she told local media. “Some families have lost everything — their belongings, their homes, even loved ones.”
Emergency response teams, including local police and rescue volunteers, worked through the early hours of the morning to evacuate affected households and clear blocked roads. However, limited resources and damaged infrastructure hampered their efforts.
City Infrastructure Overwhelmed
Mogadishu’s infrastructure has long struggled to cope with heavy rainfall, and the latest floods have highlighted the city’s vulnerability. With poor drainage systems and unplanned urban sprawl, water quickly accumulates in low-lying areas, turning roads into rivers and homes into islands.
Officials from the Banadir regional administration confirmed that key roads linking different parts of the capital have been rendered impassable. This has not only disrupted emergency relief efforts but also significantly impacted daily activities, including business operations and access to healthcare.
“We are assessing the full extent of the damage,” said Abdullahi Mohamed, a spokesman for the Banadir regional administration. “Our priority is to provide emergency shelter and support to displaced families. But the destruction is severe, and we will need support to rebuild.”
Climate Crisis and Regional Vulnerability
Somalia is no stranger to climate-related disasters. The Horn of Africa is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world, with rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns exacerbating both droughts and floods.
According to an April report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), more than 45,000 people have been affected by flash floods across Somalia since mid-April. The report emphasized that intense rainfall events have become more frequent and deadly due to changing climate conditions.
“Climate change is not a future problem for Somalia. It is happening now, and the poorest communities are paying the highest price,” said Peter Ekayu, a humanitarian affairs officer with the UN. “We are seeing an increase in the frequency and severity of both floods and droughts, making recovery nearly impossible for many families.”
The report also warned that the seasonal Gu rains, which usually occur between April and June, are likely to bring above-average rainfall this year — raising the risk of further flooding in vulnerable regions including Banadir, Hirshabelle, and South West states.
A Tragic Reminder of Past Disasters
The current disaster follows a deadly flooding episode in 2023, when more than 100 people were killed and over a million displaced across Somalia. That flooding was linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which can lead to extreme weather conditions across East Africa.
At the time, humanitarian agencies warned that without significant investment in climate adaptation and infrastructure, similar tragedies would continue to unfold. Yet, for many in Mogadishu, not much has changed.
“Every year, we are promised better drainage and emergency preparedness. But every year, we watch our city drown,” said local activist Asha Barre. “We need action, not just words.”
Calls for Urgent Response and International Support
Somali authorities are now appealing for international assistance to support relief operations and long-term climate resilience efforts. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management issued a statement calling on aid organizations and development partners to mobilize resources.
“The people of Mogadishu and other affected regions need immediate humanitarian aid, including shelter, clean water, food, and medical support,” the statement read. “We also urge long-term investment in flood control systems and urban planning to reduce future risks.”
The Somali Red Crescent and other humanitarian groups have already begun mobilizing emergency supplies and volunteers, but they warn that the scale of the disaster could overwhelm local capacity without swift international support.
Conclusion
As Somalia faces yet another climate-induced catastrophe, the deadly floods in Mogadishu serve as a painful reminder of the region’s fragility in the face of extreme weather. With lives lost, homes destroyed, and hundreds displaced, the urgency for climate adaptation and infrastructure reform has never been more clear.
Without sustainable solutions and immediate relief, experts warn that Somalia will continue to cycle through devastating floods and humanitarian crises, each one more destructive than the last.
