Floods in Ivory Coast have resulted in at least 59 fatalities so far this year, a government spokesperson announced Wednesday.
Amadou Coulibaly, speaking after a cabinet meeting, stated that the number reflects a "particularly high death toll for this year." The announcement comes after recent torrential rains caused floods and landslides in both Ivory Coast and Ghana, leading to at least 24 deaths on Monday.
Coulibaly did not provide a specific number for deaths directly attributed to the most recent flooding incidents in Ivory Coast. However, Minister of National Cohesion Myss Belmonde Dogo indicated that several days of rain caused flooding that claimed the lives of more than a dozen individuals, primarily in the Abidjan municipalities of Attécoubé and Yopougon.
In Ghana's capital, Accra, and the nearby city of Tema, the heavy rainfall submerged buildings and roads, disrupting access to numerous areas.
Coulibaly urged residents to adhere to safety directives and evacuate areas identified by the government as high-risk zones.
Deadly floods are a recurring issue in many parts of Africa, a region identified by the World Meteorological Organization as highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions.